Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Pleading Medicare Fraud

Depending on where suit is filed may determine whether the complaint is subject to dismissal for failure to comply with Fed. R. Civ. P. 9(b). Circuit courts are divided in their interpretation of the specificity requirement of Rule 9(b). See Whitney, "Minimum Pleading Requirements Needed to Prosecute Alleged Medicare Fraud," BNA's Health Care Fraud Report, Vol. 14, No. 8 pages 354-59, April 21, 2010. Some courts follow the Clausen v. Lab. Corp. of Am., Inc., 290F.3d 1301, 1311 (11th Cir. 2002), approach, which subjects to dismissal qui tam complaints that fail to identify an actual false claim submitted to the government. Other courts follow an approach more faithful to the purposes underlying the False Claims Act and allow the complaint to survive if it alleges "particular details of a scheme to submit false claims paired with reliable indicia that lead to a strong inference that claims were actually submitted." United States, ex rel. Grubbs v. Ravikumar Kanneganti, 565 F.3d 180, 195 (5th Cir. 2009).

Recently, the court in United States, ex rel. Underwood v. Genentech, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 53732 (E.D. Pa. June 2, 2010), denied the defendant's motion to dismiss premised on the relator's failure to identify in his complaint a specific false claim that was actually submitted to the government. The relator alleged that Genentech defrauded Medicare and Medicaid through an "off-label" marketing and kick-back scheme. In Underwood, the court held that such particularized pleading was not required in the Third Circuit, "especially where, as here, the Relator has alleged that the Defendant itself did not submit the false claims, but induced third parties to do so." Id. at *1.

In the alternative, the court held that the relator's complaint could be amended based on discovery obtained from the government. Id. The alternative ruling is especially significant given the government's power of issuing civil investigative demands. By the time the government completed its investigation in Underwood, it had obtained seven million documents from other federal agencies and from Genentech itself. Although the Department of Justice ("DOJ") declined to intervene, pursuant to subpoena, it provided the relator with documents it had obtained from other federal agencies. Moreover, pursuant to court order, the DOJ complied with the relator's subpoena to produce the documents it obtained directly from Genentech. The court thus permitted amendments based on evidence obtained indirectly from the qui tam defendant.

Underwood not only reinforces the importance of filing suit in district courts within circuits that do not overemphasize the specificity requirements of Rule 9(b), it also highlights an important practice pointer: injecting specificity and substantiation through amendments based on documents subpoenaed from the DOJ.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Relief From Retaliation Against False Claims Act Whistleblowers

People may witness Medicare or Medicaid fraud but choose to look the other way. That may be entirely understandable, but is that the most we should expect from our fellow citizens? If health care fraud becomes ever more rampant, should any thought be given to where that might ultimately lead?

Alternatively, a person who has knowledge of fraud and whose conscience is troubled may choose to take action. Depending on the course of action, however, the whistleblower may be exposed to retaliation. Any realistic appraisal of the consequence of blowing the whistle must consider the risk of such an outcome. In weighing whether to bear that risk, the whistleblower should take into account the federal law, discussed within, that is designed to protect whistleblowers and deter retaliation.


The Proactive Options


If not ignored, cases of suspected fraud may be handled in one of three ways:


1) Reporting to Governmental Agencies


There are established “hotlines” for reporting health care fraud. Cases of suspected fraud may be reported to the Office of the Inspector General (1-800-447-8477 or HHSTIPS@oig.hhs.gov) or to the local Senior Medicare Patrol (“SMP”), an established anti-fraud project administered by the states through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Administration on Aging. For instance, in Maryland, the fraud SMP hotline is 1-800-243-3425.


2) Reporting to Anti-fraud Compliance Programs of Private Entities


At the risk of a response like “Don’t rock the boat,” another option is to trust the employer’s internal reporting procedures. In larger organizations, employees may be encouraged to report suspected fraud to a supervisor or directly to the organization’s Compliance Department.


3) Pursuit of a False Claims Act Lawsuit


Initiating a lawsuit must not be undertaken lightly, as it is a stressful experience which most persons would prefer to avoid at all costs. Yet a highly effective mechanism exists for recovery of funds to the United States Treasury while simultaneously providing a significant reward for the person who files suit. The U.S. Department of Justice recently reported that $2.3 billion has been recovered since January 2009 in health care fraud lawsuits based on the False Claims Act (“FCA”). Unlike action taken under the first two options, under the FCA, whistleblowers are entitled to receive a reward. The successful whistleblower can receive between 15 and 30 percent of the proceeds of the action.


Whistleblower Protection


The FCA provides relief from retaliatory actions. For example, if an employee is fired because of lawful acts in furtherance of efforts to stop a false or fraudulent billing scheme, the employee is entitled to “all relief necessary to make the employee whole.” See 31 U.S.C. § 3730(h)(1) (emphasis added). Moreover, the protected conduct (i.e., lawful efforts to stop FCA violations) does not require that the whistleblower win the FCA lawsuit, or even file suit. See United States ex rel. Yesudian v. Howard Univ., 153 F.3d 731, 739 (D.C. Cir. 1998) (“the protected conduct element of a [§ 3730(h)] claim does not require the plaintiff to have developed a winning qui tam action before he is retaliated against”); United States ex rel. Ramseyer v. Century Healthcare Corp., 90 F.3d 1514, 1522 (10th Cir. 1996) (“[t]he case law is clear that a retaliation claim can be maintained even if no FCA action is ultimately successful or even filed”).


Forms of Retaliation


Retaliation by an employer may be more subtle than firing the employee. For instance, the FCA identifies the following full array of additional types of retaliatory conduct:

• demotion;
• suspension;
• threat;
• harassment; and
• discrimination affecting terms and conditions of employment.

Id. The employer who retaliates thus only magnifies his woes in light of the significant additional award an employee may secure if subjected to retaliation.


Statutory Relief


The remedy for such prohibited conduct includes reinstatement of same seniority status and double back pay:

Relief under paragraph (1) shall include reinstatement with the same seniority status that employee, contractor, or agent would have had but for the discrimination, 2 times the amount of back pay, interest on the back pay, and compensation for any special damages sustained as a result of the discrimination, including litigation costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees.

Id. at § 3730(h)(2). Thus, any lost pay gets doubled, with interest on the back pay.


Conclusion


For some persons, the anger rising from witnessing taxpayers being ripped-off and the long-range prospects of receiving a significant share of the ultimate recovery provide enough motivation to retain counsel to explore the risks and benefits to filing a FCA lawsuit. For others, the remedies for retaliation may be just that added measure of protection that allows the whistleblowers to protect their personal interests while doing their part to stop health care fraud.

Monday, April 19, 2010

The Diminished Public Disclosure Defense

Courts have dismissed countless False Claims Act (“FCA”), 31 U.S.C. § 3729-33, lawsuits based on the “public disclosure bar.” This defense jurisdictionally barred claims that had been “publicly disclosed” under certain circumstances unless the individual bringing suit was the “original source” of the information. As amended in legislation signed into law on March 25, 2010 [1], the public disclosure defense has been significantly limited.

Prior Version of 31 U.S.C. § 3730(d)(4)

Section 3730(e)(4), until its recent amendment, barred a FCA action by a private person if based on the public disclosure of allegations from three specific enumerated sources including the news media:

(4)(A) No court shall have jurisdiction over an action under this section based upon the public disclosure of allegations or transactions in a [1] criminal, civil, or administrative hearing, in a [2] congressional, administrative, or Government [General] Accounting Office report, hearing, audit, or investigation, or [3] from the news media unless the action is brought by the Attorney General or the person bringing the action is an original source of the information.
(B) For purposes of this paragraph, “original source” means an individual who has direct and independent knowledge of the information on which the allegations are based and has voluntarily provided the information to the Government before filing an action under this section which is based on the information.


Current Version of 31 U.S.C. § 3730(e)(4)

Defendants named in FCA suits now have fewer opportunities to invoke the public disclosure bar. The current version of Section 3730(e)(4) reads as follows:

(4)(A) The court shall dismiss an action or claim under this section, unless opposed by the Government, if substantially the same allegations or transactions as alleged in the action or claim were publicly disclosed –
(i) in a Federal criminal, civil, or administrative hearing in which the Government or its agent is a party;
(ii) in a congressional, Government Accountability Office, or other Federal report, hearing, audit, or investigation; or
(iii) from the news media, unless the action is brought by the Attorney General or the person bringing the action is an original source of the information.
(B) For purposes of this paragraph, “original source” means an individual who either (i) prior to a public disclosure under subsection (e)(4)(A), has voluntarily disclosed to the Government the information on which allegations or transactions in a claim are based, or (2) who has knowledge that is independent of and materially adds to the publicly disclosed allegations or transactions, and who has voluntarily provided the information to the Government before filing an action under this section.


By striking paragraph (4) and inserting this new language, Congress has effectively weakened or eliminated the grounds for dismissal that defendants invoked regularly with great enthusiasm under the prior version of the statute.

New Restrictions on Public Disclosure Defense

The current version of § 3730(e)(4) reflects three important changes to this provision:

No Longer a Jurisdictional Defense: First, by removing the word “jurisdiction,” the public disclosure bar changed from a mandatory, non-waivable, jurisdictional defense to a substantive defense. Under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(1), a motion to dismiss based on lack of subject matter jurisdiction is not waived if omitted from a responsive pleading or not asserted in a motion before pleading. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3). A jurisdictional defense provides several important benefits to defendants. A defense based on lack of subject matter jurisdiction can be raised at any time by the defendant or the court, even in post-trial motions or an appeal. This places the whistleblower’s case at the risk of unexpected dismissal well after the investment of substantial time and expense. Moreover, unlike the typical affirmative defense as to which the defendant bears the burden of proof, assertion of a jurisdictional defense places the burden on the plaintiff to establish the court’s jurisdiction. Often it is difficult to know whether a particular false or fraudulent scheme has already been disclosed by someone other than the whistleblower. Even with pre-suit due diligence, it may not be possible to know if prior disclosures have been made.

As amended, it would now appear that the “prior disclosure” defense should be raised in a responsive pleading or a Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss. Moreover, it may no longer be raised for the first time in post-trial motions or on appeal.

No Public Disclosure Bar as to Local Reports: A recent interpretation of the prior version by the U.S. Supreme Court held that this provision barred whistleblowers from actions based on disclosure in administrative reports, hearings, or investigations on the state and local levels, as well as disclosure from federal sources as to such enumerated categories. Graham County Soil & Water Conserv. Dist. v. United States ex rel. Wilson, 2010 WL 1189557 (March 30, 2010). This holding has been legislatively overruled by the recent amendments to the FCA. Now fewer types of disclosures qualify as “public.” A disclosure is considered public under the FCA only if the disclosure occurs in a federal criminal, civil, or administrative hearing and the Government or its agent is a party. Only federal reports, hearings, audits, or investigations constitute public disclosure. Public disclosure in the news media remains grounds for dismissal. FCA qui tam suits no longer are subject to dismissal for disclosure in local or state administrative reports, hearings or investigations.

No Dismissal if Opposed by the Government: Third, the Government now has veto power over dismissal. As amended, courts must dismiss FCA claims brought by whistleblowers “unless opposed by the Government, if substantially the same allegations or transactions as alleged in the action or claim were publicly disclosed” through specified public proceedings, issuances, or media, unless the relator is the “original source” of the information. 31 U.S.C. § 3730(e)(4) (emphasis added).

The Government elects to intervene in only a fraction of qui tam FCA cases a year. Given the likely existence of thousands of ongoing fraudulent schemes, which siphon billions of dollars from the U.S. Treasury, it is vitally important for the Government to rely on private whistleblowers to pursue FCA lawsuits. This new “veto power” gives the Government a means to prevent dismissal of a meritorious claim.

Broadened Definition of “Original Source”

There remains a two-part test to the “public disclosure” defense. Even if the defendant establishes that substantially the same allegations or transactions alleged in the FCA complaint were previously disclosed, the complaint is not subject to dismissal if the whistleblower is an “original source.”

“Original source” is redefined. Previously, an “original source” must have had “direct and independent knowledge of the information on which the allegations are based,” and voluntarily provided the information to the Government before filing suit based on such information. As amended, an “original source” must either: (i) prior to a public disclosure, have voluntarily disclosed to the Government the information on which allegations or transactions in the claim are based, or (ii) have knowledge that is independent of, and that materially adds to, the publicly disclosed allegations or transactions, and have voluntarily provided the information to the Government before filing an action. Under both versions there is a temporal requirement to the disclosure by requiring the whistleblower to provide the information to the Government before filing an action.

Independent Knowledge that Materially Adds to Publicly Disclosed Information is Sufficient

The second clause of § 3730(d)(4)(B) eliminates the requirement that the whistleblower have “direct and independent knowledge,” by instead referring only to “knowledge” of the information that is “independent of” and that “materially adds to” the previously disclosed information about the allegations or transactions. This should result in a greater number of potential whistleblowers qualifying as an “original source” through their ability to add something material to publicly available information.

First to File

The first to file requirement of § 3730(e)(3) remains unchanged. If a FCA lawsuit has already been filed, another suit on the same grounds cannot be brought by another person regardless of possessing independent knowledge that materially adds to allegations in the first filed suit. The language of § 3730(e)(3) continues to provide as follows: “In no event may a person bring an action under subsection (b) which is based upon allegations or transactions which are the subject of a civil suit or an administrative civil money penalty proceeding in which the Government is already a party.” 31 U.S.C. § 3730(e)(3).

Conclusion

The recent amendments should result in greater access to the courts by FCA whistleblowers, and thus increase the prospects for recovery of compensatory damages and civil penalties from defendants engaged in health care fraud.

[1]
On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordability Care Act, Pub. L. 111-148, 124 Stat. 119, which includes several provisions which broaden the reach of the FCA.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Maryland False Health Claims Act

Having passed both chambers, the Maryland False Health Claims Act of 2010 (“MFHCA”) has just been signed by Governor Martin O’Malley and will be effective October 1, 2010. The MFHCA creates a new cause of action. It authorizes private citizens to bring suit on behalf of the state to recover funds for false or fraudulent claims through a state health plan or program.[1] A MFHCA suit may be filed for activity that occurred prior to October 1, 2010, provided the limitations period has not lapsed (generally six years, but as long as 10 years in some situations).[2] As originally introduced, Senate Bill 279 was closely modeled on the federal False Claims Act (“FCA”).[3] However, as amended following lobbying efforts on behalf of hospitals and small providers, it significantly differs from the FCA. This article compares the FCA with the MFHCA. It begins with some background to the legislation. For the sake of context, the FCA is briefly summarized and cross-referenced to similar MFHCA provisions. The discussion of key provisions of the FCA that are absent from the MFHCA is highlighted in italics. This is followed by a chart which summarizes the main differences.

Legislative Goal

The Fiscal and Policy Note prepared by the Department of Legislative Services for Senate Bill 279 known as “Maryland False Health Claims Act of 2010” identified the federal incentives for states to enact anti-fraud legislation modeled on the federal FCA:

Background: In 2003, the U.S. Government Accountability Office added Medicaid to its list of high-risk programs, noting that the program’s size and growth, combined with insufficient federal and state oversight, put the program at significant risk for improper payments.
Federal Incentives: The federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA) established incentives for states to enact certain antifraud legislation modeled after the federal FCA. States that enact qualifying legislation are eligible to receive an increase of 10% in the share of recovered funds. The 10% increase in the state share of the recovery corresponds to a 10% reduction in the federal share.[4]

The Fiscal and Policy Note analysis provided an illustration of how a DRA-compliant act would benefit the state:

State Fiscal Effect: To the extent that the bill is approved by the Office of the Inspector General at the federal Department of Health and Human Services, DHMH special fund revenues increase under the bill beginning as early as fiscal 2011 due to increased fraud recoveries under the provisions of DRA. Under current law, any recoveries must be split between the State and federal government at the applicable Medicaid matching rates (normally 50/50). An approved State claims act would allow the State to retain an additional 10% share of recoveries. For example, in 2009, Pfizer Inc. reached a settlement with the federal government and states over allegations of health care fraud contained in nine qui tam cases. Maryland received $5 million from the settlement at the normal 50% State Medicaid share. DHMH-OIG advises that, had the State had a federally approved false claims statute, the State would have received $6 million.[5]

Although enactment of a State qui tam action has been hailed as a significant achievement, unfortunately, as explained within, it is not DRA-compliant. This is readily grasped by reviewing the remedies available under the FCA.

False Claims Act Lawsuits

Initiating a lawsuit is not to be undertaken lightly, as it is a stressful experience which most persons would prefer to avoid at all costs. This is especially true when the very act of filing suit might result in employer retaliation. Yet a highly effective mechanism exists for recovery of funds to the United States Treasury while simultaneously providing a significant economic incentive for the person who files suit. According to Department of Justice statistics, from 1987 through September 30, 2008 over $10 billion was recovered in health care fraud lawsuits based on the FCA, with the whistleblowers’ share being about $1.6 billion.[6] According to a recent Department of Justice Press Release, the FCA is “[o]ne of the most powerful tools” in combating health care fraud.[7] The Justice Department’s total recoveries in FCA cases since January 2009 exceed $3 billion.[8]

The FCA has been on the books since the American Civil War era. Originally designed to combat false claims submitted to the Union Army, the FCA applies to false or fraudulent Medicare and Medicaid claims submitted to the federal government for payment.[9] The law authorizes private citizens to sue on behalf of the federal government to recover funds paid for false or fraudulent claims. In the Medicare and Medicaid context, this could include such activity as billing for services or medical equipment neither needed nor received by the patient. It could further involve overcharging, mis-coding, pricing schemes, off-label marketing, kickbacks and failure to return overpayments. Perpetrators range from outright criminals running sham businesses to otherwise respectable physician groups or blue chip corporations. The variety of fraudulent schemes and scams is limited only by human imagination and greed, which is to say it is boundless.

The FCA does not seek to impose punishment or provide remedies for innocent billing errors. The fraudulent claim must be presented “knowingly,” meaning with actual knowledge of the information, or with deliberate ignorance or reckless indifference to the truth or falsity of the information.[10] There is a similar requirement for liability premised on false information made or used to support a false or fraudulent claim.[11]

The persons filing FCA lawsuits are typically called “whistle-blowers.” (In legalese, these are qui tam lawsuits brought by “relators.”) Basically, any person who is aware of false or fraudulent conduct can qualify to bring suit.[12] Typically, this is a current or former employee of an organization or corporation such as a medical practice, nursing home, hospital, clinical laboratory, health insurance company, durable medical equipment company and drug and medical device manufacturers and distributors. Some employees aware of and troubled by fraudulent schemes may be afraid to come forward due to a fear of retaliation by the employer. It can easily be imagined that a vindictive employer might be inclined to fire a whistle-blowing employee. This is obviously a legitimate concern, and it is addressed in the FCA.

Remedy for Retaliation

If an employer resorts to a retaliatory firing, significant relief is available in the form of reinstatement with double back-pay together with interest and reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.[13] In addition, the FCA was recently amended to extend protection against retaliation to agents and contractors of the party involved in fraudulent schemes.[14] This provides protection to such groups as medical staff physicians who may not be employees of a hospital or medical facility yet could be subjected to more subtle retaliation for whistle-blowing in the guise of negative peer review.

Pre-Suit Procedures

Unlike the typical private lawsuit, a FCA lawsuit must first be filed under seal[15] (which means it is not a public record). This is designed to give the federal government time to investigate and decide whether it will take primary responsibility for litigating the case rather than have it exclusively handled by the whistle-blower’s private lawyers.[16] Broad pre-suit powers of investigation and discovery are conferred upon the Attorney General, including rights to obtain documents, take depositions and receive answers to interrogatories.[17] In the event that the case is taken over by the Justice Department, the whistle-blower and his counsel continue to play a vital role in cooperating and providing evidence necessary to prove the case.

Potential Recovery

If the lawsuit is successful, the private citizen may be entitled to a substantial portion of the recovery. Even when the government takes the case, the whistle-blower remains entitled to an award of up to 25 percent of the settlement or judgment against the wrongdoer.[18] This encompasses both damages and the civil penalty. A person violating the FCA is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of at least $5,500 and not more than $11,000 per violation plus three times the amount of damages sustained by the Government.[19] If the Government does not proceed with the case, the whistle-blower is still allowed to conduct the case.[20] Upon prevailing under these circumstances, the FCA directs that the whistle-blower shall receive a reasonable sum for collecting the civil penalty and damages which shall be not less than 25 percent or more than 30 percent of the proceeds.[21] The FCA also mandates payment of reasonable attorneys fees.[22] The plaintiff’s share of the proceeds may be reduced by the court if the action was “brought by a person who planned and initiated the violation of section 3729.”[23]

The FCA provides an important deterrent to overzealous pursuit of marginal or baseless lawsuits. Contrary to the typical “American Rule” which provides that each party bears their own attorneys’ fees and expenses, the FCA, under certain extreme circumstances, provides that the loser may have to pay. Only when the Government declines to intervene, the unsuccessful whistle-blower could be ordered to pay the defendant’s attorneys’ fees and expenses if the action was “clearly frivolous, clearly vexatious, or brought primarily for purposes of harassment.”[24]

Bar to FCA Lawsuits

A significant limitation on a FCA lawsuit is that it must be based on “original source” information.[25] This means the whistle-blower must have “direct and independent knowledge.”[26] If the basis of the lawsuit has already been subjected to public disclosure in an earlier lawsuit, criminal case, administrative action or in the news media, the case will be barred, unless the person bringing suit is an original source of the information.[27] This is to discourage “parasitic” or “echo” lawsuits. Thus, it is important to be the first to come forward and file suit. As with other civil lawsuits, a FCA case must be brought in timely fashion. The FCA generally provides that the case must be brought within six years of the date of violation, although the statute of limitations may be extended to 10 years under certain circumstances.[28]

Test to Determine if State Act Satisfies Criteria for Federal Incentive Payment

As enacted by section 6031 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, section 1909 of the Social Security Act (Act) provides a financial incentive for States to enact false claims acts that establish liability to the State for the submission of false or fraudulent claims to the State’s Medicaid program. If a State false claims act meets certain requirements, the State is entitled to an increase of 10 percentage points in the State medical assistance percentage, as determined by section 1905(b) of the Social Security Act, regarding any amounts recovered under a State false claims act.

Under section 1909(b) of the Act, the Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) is required to determine, in consultation with the Attorney General of the United States, whether a State has in effect a law relating to false or fraudulent claims submitted to a State Medicaid program that meets these enumerated requirements. On August 21, 2006, OIG published a notice in the Federal Register that sets forth OIG’s guidelines for reviewing State false claims acts. The guidelines invited States to request OIG’s review of State laws to determine if the laws meet the requirements of section 1909(b) of the Act. OIG also invites states with draft legislation to submit their drafts for informal review and discussion before the draft legislation is passed. (The FISCAL AND POLICY NOTE to SB 279 is silent as to whether the draft legislation was submitted to OIG.)

The Inspector General’s guidelines for evaluating whether a State statute meets the requirements of section 1909 are set forth as follows [Requirements not met by MFHCA are italicized in bold.]:

Under section 1909(b)(2) of the Act, a State law must contain provisions that are at least as effective in rewarding and facilitating qui tam actions for false or fraudulent claims as those described in 31 U.S.C. 3730-3732. When evaluating a State law to determine whether it meets the requirements of section 1909(b)(2) of the Act, OIG will consider whether the law provides for the following:

1. A provision that authorizes a person (relator) to bring a civil action for a violation of the State false claims act for the person and for the State, which will be brought in the name of the State.
2. A provision that requires a copy of complaint and written disclosure of material evidence and information to be served on the State Attorney General in accordance with State Rules of Civil Procedure.
3. A provision that provides that when a relator brings a qui tam action, no person other than the State may intervene or bring a related action based on the facts underlying the pending action.
4. Provisions that set forth rights of parties to qui tam actions, including:
● If the State proceeds with the action, the State has primary responsibility in the action, but the relator shall have the right to continue as a party to the action; and
If the State elects not to proceed with the action, the relator may conduct the action but the State may intervene at a later date upon a showing of good cause.
5. Provisions that reward a relator with a share of the proceeds of the action or settlement of the claim, including:
● If the State proceeds with an action brought by the qui tam relator, the relator receives at least 15 percent of the proceeds of the action or settlement of the claim [comprised of both civil penalty and damages], and may receive a higher percentage depending on the relator’s contribution to the prosecution of the action;
If the State does not proceed with an action, the relator receives at least 25 percent of the proceeds of the action or settlement, and may receive a higher percentage depending on the relator’s contribution to the prosecution of the action; and
The court is authorized [“required” per § 3730(d)] to award the relator an amount for reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees and costs, to be awarded against the defendant.
6. A statute of limitations period not shorter than 6 years after the date of the violation is committed, or 3 years after the date when facts material to the right of action are known or reasonably should have been known by the State official charged with the responsibility to act in the circumstances, whichever occurs last.
7. A provision that establishes the burden of proof, for each of the elements of the cause of action including damages, no greater than a preponderance of the evidence.
8. A provision that provides a cause of action for relators who suffer retribution from employers for whistleblower activities related to the State false claims act.
OIG is required to consider whether the State law is at lease as effective in rewarding and facilitating qui tam actions when compared to the provisions at 31 U.S.C. 3730-3732. State false claims acts may include procedural rights, reductions in relator awards, jurisdictional bars, and other qui tam provisions similar to those found in the FCA that do not conflict with the requirements of section 1909(b)(2) of the Act. However, if such provisions are more restrictive than the provisions in the FCA, OIG may determine that a State law is not as effective in rewarding or facilitating qui tam actions. OIG will make such determinations on a case-by-case basis and in consultation with DOJ.

* * *
D. Civil Penalty Provisions

Under section 1909(b)(4) of the Act, the State law must contain a civil penalty that is not less than the amount of the civil penalty authorized under 31 U.S.C. 3729. OIG will review a state law to determine if these provision include a provision that sets at least treble damages (or double damages in instances of timely self-disclosure and full cooperation) and civil penalties at amounts of at least $5,000 to $10,000 per false claim.
[29]

SUMMARY OF DIFFERENCES

It is apparent that the MFHCA lacks provisions determined to be vital to the FCA and contains other restrictions not found in the FCA that make it less effective in rewarding and facilitating qui tam actions:

FCA

1) ● Civil penalty not less than $5,500 and not more than $11,000 per violation plus;
● An amount equal to three times the amount of damages the government sustains. § 3729(a)(1)(G).
2) ● The court may reduce the award if the plaintiff planned and initiated the violation. § 3730(d)(3).
3) ● Plaintiff shall receive reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses and shall be awarded against the defendant. § 3730(d)(1).
4) ● If government declines intervention, plaintiff may proceed with action. § 3730(c)(3).
● If government declines intervention, plaintiff shall receive not less than 25 percent and not more than 30 percent of the civil penalty and damages shall be paid. § 3730(d)(2).
5) ● If government declines intervention and defendant prevails, the court may award the defendant its reasonable attorneys’ fees if the claim was “clearly frivolous, clearly vexatious, or brought primarily for purposes of harassment.” § 3730(d)(4). Thus, attorneys’ fees not available to defendant when Government intervenes.

MFHCA

1) ● No minimum civil penalty; and maximum per violation of $10,000. § 2-602(B)(I).
● No right of private person to compensatory damages award.
● For state only, additional amount of not more than three times the damages sustained by the state. § 2-602(B)(II).
● In deciding the “appropriate” amount of civil fines and damages, the court shall consider multiple potentially mitigating factors (e.g., history of billing compliance, remedial action) and “where appropriate, give special consideration” to the defendant’s “size” and “financial condition.” § 2-602(C)(1), (2).
2) ● The court may reduce plaintiff’s share of the award if the plaintiff planned, initiated “or otherwise deliberately participated in the violation on which the action was based.” § 2-605(B)(1).
3) ● The court may award attorneys’ fees to prevailing plaintiff. § 2-605(C)(1).
4) ● If state declines intervention, the case is dismissed. § 2-604(A)(7).
● If the state initially intervenes, it may elect at any time to withdraw its intervention, and the case shall be dismissed regardless of plaintiff’s objections. § 2-604(B)(3).
5) ● If defendant prevails, even when government intervenes – the only way suit may be bought – attorneys’ fees may be awarded to defendant if the action was “brought primarily for purposes of harassment or otherwise brought in bad faith.” § 2-605(C).

Conclusion

Maryland’s False Health Claims Act differs significantly from the FCA. The MFHCA’s omission of several significant provisions featured in the federal statute and addition of restrictive measures makes it not at least as effective in rewarding and facilitating qui tam actions as the federal FCA. Looking into the future, if the MFHCA is amended at the 2011 session of the General Assembly to address the issues noted above, the OIG will be open to consider the MFHCA to determine its eligibility for Maryland to receive an additional 10 percentage points with respect to any amount recovered under the MFHCA. Although MFHCA is not DRA-compliant, it represents a step forward. With a year’s experience, perhaps the General Assembly will see the wisdom of passing amendments to enable Maryland to obtain the maximum available recoveries.

[1] Md. Health General Code Ann. § 2-604(A) (2009 Repl. Vol.).
[2] Id. § 2-609(B).
[3] 31 U.S.C. § 3729 to 3733.
[4] FISCAL AND POLICY NOTE Senate Bill 279 Department of Legislative Services Maryland General Assembly 2010 Session at p. 7.
[5] Id. at p. 8.
[6] See http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2008/November/fraud-statistics1986-2008.htm.
[7] See Press Release, Federal Bureau of Investigation Field Office, U.S. Dep’t Justice, National Dental Management Company Pays $24 Million to Resolve Fraud Allegations (January 20, 2010), available at http://washingtondc.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/%20pressrel110/wfo012010.html.
[8] Id.
[9] Medicare is a federal health insurance program for persons age 65 or older, some disabled persons under age 65, and persons with End-Stage Renal Disease, regardless of age. Groups who may be eligible for Medicaid, a federal-state program of health and long term care, include pregnant women, children of families with limited income, persons with various disabilities and certain persons with Medicare. Nationally combined Medicare and Medicaid spending reached $885.4 billion in 2009. See C. J. Truffer, et al., Health Spending Projections Through 2019: The Recession’s Impact Continues, Health Affairs, doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2009.1074 (Published online Feb. 4, 2010) (“Health Affairs”). This figure is over $200 billion more than an earlier estimate by the Congressional Budget Office of $677.4 billion for these programs. See Congressional Budget Office, The Budget and Economic Outlook’s Fiscal Years 2008 to 2019, CBO’s March 2009 Baselines for Medicare and Medicaid, available at www.cbo.gov (last visited 12/4/09).
[10] 31 U.S.C. § 3729(a)(1)(A); (b)(1); See MFHCA § 2-601(F) (unlike the FCA, expressly exempts “mistakes” or “negligence”); § 2-602(A)(1).
[11] 31 U.S.C. § 3729(a)(1)(B). See MFHCA § 2-602(A)(2).
[12] 31 U.S.C. § 3730(b)(1). See MFHCA § 2-604(A)(1).
[13] 31 U.S.C. § 3730(h)(1) & (2). See MFHCA § 2-607(A), (B)(2)(II), (IV), (V) (also expressly providing for injunctive relief § (B)(2)(I) and punitive damages, § (B)(2)(VI)).
[14] 31 U.S.C. § 3730(h)(1). See MFHCA § 2-607(B).
[15] 31 U.S.C. § 3730(b)(2). See MFHCA § 2-604(A)(3)(II).
[16] See 31 U.S.C. § 3730(b)(2). The government has 60 days, which can be extended for good cause shown. Id. at § 3730(b)(3). See MFHCA § 2-604(A)(3)(II)(3), (4)(I).
[17] 31 U.S.C. § 3733(a). See MFHCA § 2-604(B)(2).
[18] 31 U.S.C. § 3730(d)(1). See MFHCA § 2-605(A)(I).
[19] 31 U.S.C. § 3729(a)(1)(G).
[20] Id. at § 3730(c)(3). The right to bring suit when the government declines to intervene is critical to achieve the goals of the FCA. Although intervention may be declined based on an assessment that the case lacks merit, it is also a certainty that the government often decides not to intervene simply due to a lack of resources. For all practical purposes, the government must allocate its resources to only those cases with the greatest potential sums at stake. Simply stated, the government lacks the resources to intervene in every meritorious case. Yet, fraudulent billing schemes by 10 different defendants each causing losses of $1 million are just as significant as the sole defendant whose scheme bills $10 million in fraudulent claims. By requiring dismissal of claims the state declines to pursue, the MFHCA in effect creates a de facto exemption for all but the most egregious billing schemes.
[21] 31 U.S.C. § 3730 (d)(2).
[22] Id.
[23] Id. at § 3730(d)(3).
[24] 31 U.S.C. § 3730(d)(4). See MFHCA § 2-605(C)(2).
[25] 31 U.S.C. § 3730(e)(4)(A). See MFHCA § 2-606(D)(1).
[26] 31 U.S.C. § 3730(e)(4)(B). See MFHCA § 2-606(D)(2).
[27] 31 U.S.C. § 3730(e)(4)(B). See MFHCA § 2-606(D)(2)(I).
[28] 31 U.S.C. § 3731(b). See MFHCA § 2-609(A).
[29] 71 FR 48552, August 21, 2006 at pp. 48553-48554 (emphasis added).