What kind of reward might a healthcare whistleblower receive?

There are many factors that come into play when it comes to receiving a reward for bringing forth a successful whistleblower lawsuit. Rewards are dependent on the type of case and what particular program or act the suit or claim is filed under. For instance, there are specific guidelines that determine if a whistleblower case is to be filed under The False Claims Act, Securities and Exchange Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or the IRS. The most common whistleblower cases (also known as a qui tam lawsuit), that originate from the healthcare industry, usually involve fraud against the Medicare or Medicaid systems. Individuals who have evidence of Medicare or Medicaid fraud may be eligible to receive monetary compensation as a reward under The False Claims Act. Bringing your case to a healthcare whistleblower lawyer will help you stay protected from any potential retaliation and assist you in putting forth a strong case.

What does the potential compensation look like for a healthcare whistleblower?

No matter what whistleblower program a claim is submitted under, rewards are a certain percentage of the amount of money that is recovered for the government, not the total amount of money that the government has lost. Specifically, whistleblower cases under the provisions of The False Claims Act, could receive anywhere between 15% – 30% of the total amount recovered. There are, however, other factors that help determine the actual percentage that will be the reward to the whistleblower, includiing whether or not the government joins the case, the strength of the evidence that’s supporting the false claim, and ultimately, the support that’s put into the case by the whistleblower and by the lawyer that is representing the whistleblower’s case.

What could compensation look like if the Government decides to join the case?

When a lawsuit is brought forth under The False Claims Act, the next step would be for the Government to initiate its own investigation of the presented case. Once the case has been investigated, the Government will then decide if they’d like to step in as the plaintiff in the case. If the government joins the case, the expected reward is 15% – 25% of the recovered funds, with the additional consideration of the aforementioned contributing factors. If the government decides not to take on the case, and if the whistleblower decides to go ahead and move forward with the case, the whistleblower could then receive a reward of 25%-30% of recovery.

Who is responsible for paying for the reward of the whistleblower?

If a whistleblower lawsuit is successful, the federal government is responsible for paying the reward to the whistleblower. This will be a percentage of the total amount recovered to the government. The total amount recovered could include treble damages (which is an amount of $3 for every $1 the government lost as a result of the fraud) and penalties for the claim.

Arvind Bob Khurana, national whistleblower attorney, helps people from bringing forth healthcare-related fraud.

At Khurana Law Firm, it is a part of the firm’s mission to use their knowledge and resources to build a strong case that will help whistleblowers receive a reward for aiding the government to fight against fraud. Contact us today for a consultation.