Is Medicaid Fraud Occurring at Your Mississippi Workplace?

Is Your Mississippi Employer or other Medical Provider Guilty of Medicaid Fraud?

Mississippi Medicaid provides quality, affordable medical care to low income children, adults, elderly and disabled. The government funds this valuable health care program with the hard-earned dollars of Mississippi taxpayers.

When corrupt, dishonest health care professionals, pharmacies and hospitals scheme to profit financially from Medicaid, all Mississippi residents are adversely effected.

In 2015 alone, the Mississippi Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) recovered over $14.8 million in stolen Mississippi Medicaid funds. Honest physicians, pharmacists, EMT’s, nurses, sales representatives and other health care professionals who report their knowledge of Mississippi Medicaid fraud are vital to recovering these stolen funds.

The federal False Claims Act pays large cash awards for inside information on cases of overbilling, medical necessity fraud, false documentation, off-label promotion, Stark Law violations and illegal kickbacks.

The Medicaid Fraud Hotline preserves the rights and privacy of health care employees and others who chose to come forward and report Mississippi Medicaid Fraud. Call today and secure your role as whistleblower.

Review the Various Types of Medicaid Fraud

Reporting Mississippi Medicaid Fraud

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What Laws Govern the Reporting of Mississippi Medicaid Fraud?

The federal False Claims Act (FCA), 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729 - 3733, is the government’s most powerful tool in the fight against Medicaid and Medicare fraud. The whistleblower, or “qui tam,” provisions of the federal FCA allow individuals with original, non-public information on Medicaid fraud to file a lawsuit on behalf of the federal government.

When investigation into a whistleblower’s information leads to government recovery of funds through a successful verdict or settlement, the FCA rewards the whistleblower with between 10% and 30% of the recovery amount.

Whistleblowers may also sue for damages when an employer fires, harasses, threatens or otherwise discriminates against them for reporting fraud, planning to report fraud or participating in an investigation.

The State of Mississippi does not have a state FCA, but the activity that constitutes fraud against Mississippi Medicaid often is in violation of the federal FCA. This activity may include:

• Presenting false or fraudulent claims to Medicaid for payment
• Making or using a false statement regarding a false claim
• Conspiring to violate the federal FCA
• Knowingly misusing, wasting or abusing government funds
• Billing for services never provided, substandard quality care or upcoding
• Making inappropriate payment arrangements or providing kickbacks in exchange for patient referrals
• Withholding, misrepresenting or altering medical, expense or other records in an attempt for financial gain

Whistleblower awards often fall in the hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars range. This is because those individuals or entities who violate the federal FCA must pay a civil penalty of between $5,000 and $10,000, plus three times the amount of each false claim and costs of litigation.

A whistleblower need not prove that an individual or agency intended to defraud the government. The False Claims Act is violated when an individual or agency knows of the false claim and acts with deliberate ignorance or reckless disregard of that false claim. Even an unreported mistake in accounting can constitute a false claim, as long as the mistake is known.

If you suspect a Mississippi health care professional is submitting false or fraudulent claims to Mississippi Medicaid, report your information now. We guarantee your privacy and maximize cash whistleblower rewards. Contacting the Medicaid Fraud Hotline does not obligate you to pursue a case.

Does the Law Provide Protection For Those Reporting Mississippi Medicaid Fraud?

The federal False Claims Act (FCA), 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729 - 3733, makes it illegal for any employer, contractor or agent to discharge, demote, suspend, threaten, harass or in any other manner discriminate against an employee because that employee made an attempt to stop an FCA violation.

 If you have experienced employer retaliation after reporting a concern regarding Mississippi Medicaid Fraud to an internal supervisor, an external source or because you participated in an investigation against some entity, you have a right to fight for remedies, including:

• Job reinstatement with equal seniority status
• Two times back pay on any lost wages
• Interest on the back pay
• Compensation for and special damages
• Litigation costs and reasonable attorneys' fees

Whether you merely suspect Mississippi Medicaid fraud in your place of work, or you have certain evidence, don’t wait to contact the Medicaid Fraud Hotline. The State of Mississippi depends on honest members of Mississippi’s health care industry to report any knowledge of fraud.

What Cash Whistleblower Awards Are Available for Reporting Mississippi Medicaid Fraud?

Under the federal False Claims Act (FCA), 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729 - 3733, whistleblowers whose information leads to successful government recovery are entitled to between 10% and 30% of the total recovery amount. The exact amount of a whistleblower cash award is based on a number of variables, including:

• Whether the government chooses to intervene
• Significance of the whistleblower’s original source information
• Extent to which the whistleblower aids the investigation
• Extent to which the whistleblower participated in the illegal activity

Whistleblowers collect between 15% and 25% of the government recovery amount when the government choses to intervene in a whistleblower case. This award amount increases to a potential 30% reward when the government does not intervene and the whistleblower continues with his or her own private counsel.

Whistleblowers whose information leads to successful government recovery are also paid amounts to cover reasonable attorneys’ fees and the expenses and costs of litigation.

Federal and state governments distribute tax dollars carefully to ensure adequate funding of health care programs like Mississipi Medicaid. When these funds are wasted or abused, every Mississippi resident suffers. Help put a stop to Mississippi Medicaid fraud. Call now for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.

Are There Time Limits on Reporting Mississippi Medicaid Fraud?

The federal False Claims Act (FCA), 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729 - 3733, requires that a whistleblower bring a lawsuit within 6 years after the date of the violation, or within 3 years after the date on which the violation reasonably should have been known, and no longer than 10 years after the date of the violation. Anti-retaliation lawsuits must be brought within 3 years of the date on which the retaliatory activity began.

Don’t delay or you may forfeit your cash reward. FCA first-to-file provisions mean only the first whistleblower to report a fraud is eligible to collect the cash award. In addition, statutes of limitations limit the amount of time you have to file a claim. One call to the Medicaid Fraud Hotline solidifies your role as whistleblower and stops the clock. Call the Medicaid Fraud Hotline today.

If you suspect your Mississippi employer, other agency or medical provider is acting to defraud the Mississippi Medicaid program, contact the Medicaid Fraud Hotline now for a no-cost, completely confidential case evaluation.

Over $1 Million in Cash Awards for Tips Leading to Government Recovery