BOSTON – Earlier this month, United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins hosted a panel discussion on qui tam lawsuits, also known as whistleblower cases. The event highlighted U.S. Attorney Rollins’ commitment to holding those who defraud the government and its taxpayers accountable through civil enforcement actions under the False Claims Act and criminal prosecutions.
The panel, which was comprised of Office leadership including the Chief and Deputy Chief of Rollins’ Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit and the Chief of Rollins’ Criminal Health Care Fraud Unit, presented to an audience of several dozen lawyers who represent whistleblowers. The event was moderated by a representative from Taxpayers Against Fraud, a public interest non-profit organization dedicated to advancing whistleblower litigation.
“Protecting our tax dollars and the public from fraud is vital to our health care, financial, and defense contracting systems, but moreover to the well-being of our democracy. Left unchecked, fraud and corruption are corrosive to the public’s trust in our government,” said U.S. Attorney Rollins. “Every enforcement action my office brings demonstrates our commitment to obtaining justice and to deterring future malfeasance. By meeting with stakeholders, we learn about trends and can hear any concerns they may have regarding the office. Being accessible and transparent will result in more relators coming to our office and exposing fraud and corruption.”
The District of Massachusetts has long been a national leader in prosecuting health care fraud and annually collects recoveries in the tens to hundreds of millions. Thus far in 2022, civil False Claims Act recoveries for cases in the District of Massachusetts exceeds $250 million for violations that include unlawful kickbacks, underpayment of Medicaid rebates, failing to property license and supervise mental health staff, billing for medically unnecessary diagnostic testing and improper physician self-referrals (also known as Stark Law violations). Civil False Claims Act work in the District of Massachusetts also includes government defense contracting fraud, grant fraud, customs fraud and fraud related to financial institutions.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office brings criminal prosecutions involving false claims, unlawful kickbacks, health care program fraud, privacy breaches and wire fraud. In recent years, the Office has prosecuted both companies and individuals who conspired to defrauded federal health insurance programs, evaded federal drug safety regulations, marketed flawed and medically unnecessary medical devices and exploited vulnerable individuals by prioritizing profits over patient care.
Under the False Claims Act, private citizens may file suits on behalf of the government against companies and individuals who defraud the federal government. If recoveries are paid by the defendants in these qui tam lawsuits, the private citizen (or “relator”) receives a portion of those funds. Many fraud investigations and lawsuits originate with qui tam filings.