All of us are shocked and dismayed by the various plots to defraud the state by submitting false claims to state government for payment in violation of the New Hampshire Fraud and False Claims Act. This is particularly disturbing given the state budgetary crisis usually lands on the backs of the poor and the politically unconnected and the fraud can be aimed at programs to help the vulnerable segments of our society. The good news is New Hampshire has laws which provide incentives and protections for persons to reveal the fraud and help the state recover the funds and assist the neediest members of our society.
Under the New Hampshire False Claims Act, in certain circumstances, a person with knowledge of another person attempting to defraud the state for such things as health care fraud or similar government contracts can bring an action under the FNHFCA.
The person committing the fraud can be liable to the state for a civil penalty of not less than $5,000.00 and no more than $10,000, plus 3 times the amount of damages that the state sustains as a result of the fraudulent act.
In certain circumstances, a whistleblower can bring an action on behalf of the State and if the whistleblower substantially contributed to the prosecution of the claim, the whistleblower may receive between 15 and 25 percent of the proceeds from the proceeds of the suit or settlement of the claim. In addition, the whistleblower may recover all reasonable expenses necessarily incurred in in bringing the suit, plus reasonable attorney fees and costs.
In a recent Arizona case brought under the Federal False Claim Act, a Health Network agreed to pay $35 million to resolve allegations that it submitted false bills for inpatient rehab services. The various schemes designed to defraud the government for medical billing sometimes reach the limits of human imagination. Fortunately, New Hampshire has a statute which awards and protects courageous citizens who reveal these various plots.
To learn more about how you can use this law to prevent fraudulent acts against the State and the beneficiaries of state program, contact an experienced and results oriented attorney at the McGrath Law Firm, PA. To make an appointment, call (603) 224-7111 or (800) 283-1380, or visit www.mcgrathlawfirm.com.