Under the False Claims Act, who can file a civil action for healthcare fraud?

The False Claims Act allows individuals known as relators or whistleblowers to file a civil action on behalf of the government when they have evidence that their employer or any other individual or entity is committing healthcare fraud. This provision encourages people with insider knowledge of fraudulent activities to come forward and report such practices, potentially leading to significant recoveries for the government and holding wrongdoers accountable.

The role of the relator is crucial because they can bring information to light that may not be otherwise accessible to government authorities. This mechanism helps to uncover fraud cases that might not be discovered through traditional oversight alone. The law provides protections for whistleblowers, making it safer for them to report fraudulent activities without fear of retaliation.

While federal agency officials and the Attorney General are involved in the enforcement of the False Claims Act, they do not possess the ability to initiate a civil action in the same way a relator can. Moreover, the False Claims Act is not limited to healthcare providers; any individual with knowledge of fraud can serve as a relator, making the act more inclusive and powerful in combatting fraud across various sectors.