The BronxCare Health System (the “Hospital”) is committed to complying with the requirements of Section 6032 of the Federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, and preventing and detecting any fraud, waste, or abuse in the Hospital. To this end, the Hospital maintains a compliance program and strives to educate its work force on fraud and abuse laws, including the importance of submitting accurate claims and reports to the Federal and State governments.
The Hospital has instituted various procedures, which are set forth in the our Compliance Manual, to ensure compliance with these laws and to assist us in preventing fraud, waste and abuse in federal health care programs. In furtherance of this policy and to comply with the Deficit Reduction Act, the Hospital disseminates this policy to all employees (including management, contractors and other agents) to ensure that such persons are aware of certain relevant Federal and State laws, and that submission of a false claim can result in significant administrative and civil penalties under the Federal False Claims Act and other New York State laws.
POLICY
To assist the Hospital in meeting its legal and ethical obligations, any employee who reasonably suspects or is aware of the preparation or submission of a false claim or report or any other potential fraud, waste, or abuse related to a Federal or State funded health care program is required to report such information to his/her supervisor and the Compliance Officer (or Compliance Liaison). Any employee who reports such information will have the right and opportunity to do so anonymously and will be protected against retaliation for coming forward with such information both under our internal compliance policies and procedures and Federal and State law. However, the Hospital retains the right to take appropriate action against an employee who has participated in a violation of Federal or State law or Hospital policy or intentionally and maliciously reports a false claim.
The Hospital commits itself to investigate any suspicions of fraud, waste, or abuse swiftly and thoroughly and requires all employees to assist in such investigations. If an employee believes that the Hospital is not responding to his or her report within a reasonable period of time, the employee shall bring these concerns about the Hospital’s perceived inaction to the Corporate Compliance Officer or Compliance Liaison. Failure to report and disclose or assist in an investigation of fraud and abuse is a breach of the employee’s obligations to the Hospital and may result in disciplinary action, up to, and including termination.
RELEVANT LAWS RELATING TO FILING FALSE CLAIMS:
I. FEDERAL LAWS
A. The Federal False Claims Act (31 USC §§3729-3733)
The False Claims Act ("FCA") provides, in pertinent part, that:
1) any person who
(A) knowingly presents, or causes to be presented, a false or fraudulent claim for payment or approval;
(B) knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used, a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim;
(C) conspires to commit [the above violations]; . . . or
(G) knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used, a false record or statement material to an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the Government, or knowingly conceals or knowingly and improperly avoids or decreases an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the Government,
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is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not less than $5,000 and not more than $10,000, plus 3 times the amount of damages which the Government sustains because of the act of that person...
For purposes of this section,
(1) the terms "knowing" and "knowingly"
(A) mean that a person, with respect to information--
(i) has actual knowledge of the information;
(ii) acts in deliberate ignorance of the truth or falsity of the information; or
(iii) acts in reckless disregard of the truth or falsity of the information; and
(B) require no proof of specific intent to defraud; and
(2) the term “claim”
(A) means any request or demand, whether under a contract or otherwise, for money or property and whether or not the United States has title to the money or property, that--
(i) is presented to an officer, employee, or agent of the United States; or
(ii) is made to a contractor, grantee, or other recipient, if the money or property is to be spent or used on the Government's behalf or to advance a Government program or interest, and if the United States Government (I) provides or has provided any portion of the money or property requested or demanded; or
(B) will reimburse such contractor, grantee, or other recipient for any portion of the money or property which is requested or demanded; and
(3) the term “obligation” means an established duty, whether or not fixed, arising from an express or implied contractual, grantor-grantee, or licensor-licensee relationship, from a fee-based or similar relationship, from statute or regulation, or from the retention of any overpayment; and
(4) the term “material” means having a natural tendency to influence, or be capable of influencing, the payment or receipt of money or property. 31 U.S.C. § 3729.
While the False Claims Act imposes liability only when the claimant acts “knowingly,” it does not require that the person submitting the claim have actual knowledge that the claim is false. A person who acts in reckless disregard or in deliberate ignorance of the truth or falsity of the information, also can be found liable under the Act. 31 U.S.C. 3729(b).
In sum, the False Claims Act imposes liability on any person who submits a claim to the federal government or a contractor of the federal government that he or she knows (or should know) is false. An example may be a physician who submits a bill to Medicare for medical services she knows she has not provided.
The False Claims Act also imposes liability on an individual who may knowingly submit a false record in order to obtain payment from the government. An example of this may include a government contractor who submits records that he knows (or should know) are false and that indicate compliance with certain contractual or regulatory requirements.
The third area of liability includes those instances in which someone may obtain money from the federal government to which he may not be entitled, and then uses false statements or records in order to retain the money. An example of this so-called “reverse false claim” may include a hospital who obtains interim payments from Medicare throughout the year, and then knowingly files a false cost report at the end of the year in order to avoid making a refund to the Medicare program.
In addition to its substantive provisions, the FCA provides that private parties may bring an action on behalf of the United States. 31 U.S.C. 3730 (b). These private parties, known as “qui tam relators,” may share in a percentage of the proceeds from an FCA action or settlement.
Section 3730(d)(1) of the FCA provides, with some exceptions, that a qui tam relator, when the Government has intervened in the lawsuit, shall receive at least 15 percent but not more than 25 percent of the proceeds of the FCA action depending upon the extent to which the relator substantially contributed to the prosecution of the action. When the Government does not intervene, section 3730(d)(2) provides that the relator shall receive an amount that the court decides is reasonable and shall be not less than 25 percent and not more than 30 percent.
B. Administrative Remedies for False Claims (31 USC §§3801– 3812)
This statute allows for administrative recoveries by federal agencies. If a person submits a claim that the person knows is false or contains false information, or omits material information, then the agency receiving the claim may impose a penalty of up to $5,000 for each claim. The agency may also recover twice the amount of the claim.
Unlike the False Claims Act, a violation of this law occurs when a false claim is submitted, not when it is paid. Also unlike the False Claims Act, the determination of whether a claim is false, and the imposition of fines and penalties is made by the administrative agency, not by prosecution in the federal court system.
II. NEW YORK STATE LAWS
New York’s false claims laws fall into two categories: civil and administrative; and criminal laws. Some apply to recipient false claims and some apply to provider false claims, and while most are specific to healthcare or Medicaid, some of the “common law” crimes apply to areas of interaction with the government.
A. Civil And Administrative Laws
1. NY False Claims Act (State Finance Law, §§187-194) -- The NY False Claims Act closely tracks the federal False Claims Act. It imposes penalties and fines on individuals and entities that file false or fraudulent claims for payment from any state or local government, including health care programs such as Medicaid. The penalty for filing a false claim is $6,000 -$12,000 per claim and the recoverable damages are between two and three times the value of the amount falsely received. In addition, the false claim filer may have to pay the government’s legal fees.
The Act allows private individuals to file lawsuits in state court, just as if they were state or local government parties. If the suit eventually concludes with payments back to the government, the person who started the case can recover 25-30% of the proceeds if the government did not participate in the suit of 15-25% if the government did participate in the suit.
2. Social Services Law §145-b -- False Statements It is a violation to knowingly obtain or attempt to obtain payment for items or services furnished under any Social Services program, including Medicaid, by use of a false statement, deliberate concealment or other fraudulent scheme or device. The State or the local Social Services district may recover three times the amount incorrectly paid. In addition, the Department of Health may impose a civil penalty of up to $2,000 per violation. If repeat violations occur within 5 years, a penalty up to $7,500 per violation may be imposed if they involve more serious violations of Medicaid rules, billing for services not rendered or providing excessive services.
3. Social Services Law §145-c -- Sanctions If any person applies for or receives public assistance, including Medicaid, by intentionally making a false or misleading statement, or intending to do so, the person’s, the person’s family’s needs are not taken into account for 6 months if a first offense, 12 months if a second (or once if benefits received are over $3,900) and five years for 4 or more offenses.
B. Criminal Laws
1. Social Services Law §145 -- Penalties Any person who submits false statements or deliberately conceals material information in order to receive public assistance, including Medicaid, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
2. Social Services Law § 366-b -- Penalties for Fraudulent Practices
(a) Any person who obtains or attempts to obtain, for himself or others, medical assistance by means of a false statement, concealment of material facts, impersonation or other fraudulent means is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
(b) Any person who, with intent to defraud, presents for payment and false or fraudulent claim for furnishing services, knowingly submits false information to obtain greater Medicaid compensation or knowingly submits false information in order to obtain authorization to provide items or services is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
3. Penal Law Article 155, Larceny -- The crime of larceny applies to a person who, with intent to deprive another of his property, obtains, takes or withholds the property by means of trick, embezzlement, false pretense, false promise, including a scheme to defraud, or other similar behavior. It has been applied to Medicaid fraud cases.
(a) Fourth degree grand larceny involves property valued over $1,000. It is a Class E felony.
(b) Third degree grand larceny involves property valued over $3,000. It is a Class D felony.
(c) Second degree grand larceny involves property valued over $50,000. It is a Class C felony.
(d) First degree grand larceny involves property valued over $1 million. It is a Class B felony.
4. Penal Law Article 175, False Written Statements --Four crimes in this Article relate to filing false information or claims and have been applied in Medicaid fraud prosecutions:
(a) §175.05, Falsifying business records involves entering false information, omitting material information or altering an enterprise’s business records with the intent to defraud. It is a Class A misdemeanor.
(b) § 175.10, Falsifying business records in the first degree includes the elements of the §175.05 offense and includes the intent to commit another crime or conceal its commission. It is a Class E felony.
(c) §175.30, Offering a false instrument for filing in the second degree involves presenting a written instrument (including a claim for payment) to a public office knowing that it contains false information. It is a Class A misdemeanor.
(d) §175.35, Offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree includes the elements of the second degree offense and must include an intent to defraud the state or a political subdivision. It is a Class E felony.
5. Penal Law Article 176 -- Insurance Fraud Applies to claims for insurance payment, including Medicaid or other health insurance and contains six crimes.
(a) Insurance Fraud in the 5th degree involves intentionally filing a health insurance claim knowing that it is false. It is a Class A misdemeanor.
(b) Insurance fraud in the 4th degree is filing a false insurance claim for over $1,000. It is a Class E felony.
(c) Insurance fraud in the 3rd degree is filing a false insurance claim for over $3,000. It is a Class D felony.
(d) Insurance fraud in the 2nd degree is filing a false insurance claim for over $50,000. It is a Class C felony.
(e) Insurance fraud in the 1st degree is filing a false insurance claim for over $1 million. It is a Class B felony.
(f) Aggravated insurance fraud is committing insurance fraud more than once. It is a Class D felony.
6. Penal Law Article 177 -- Health Care Fraud Applies to claims for health insurance payment, including Medicaid, and contains five crimes:
(a) Health care fraud in the 5th degree is knowingly filing, with intent to defraud, a claim for payment that intentionally has false information or omissions. It is a Class A misdemeanor.
(b) Health care fraud in the 4th degree is filing false claims and annually receiving over $3,000 in aggregate. It is a Class E felony.
(c) Health care fraud in the 3rd degree is filing false claims and annually receiving over $10,000 in the aggregate. It is a Class D felony.
(d) Health care fraud in the 2nd degree is filing false claims and annually receiving over $50,000 in the aggregate. It is a Class C felony.
(e) Health care fraud in the 1st degree is filing false claims and annually receiving over $1 million in the aggregate. It is a Class B felony.
III. WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION
A. Federal False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. §3730[h])
The FCA provides protection to any employee, contractor, or agent who is discharged, demoted, suspended, threatened, harassed, or in any other manner discriminated against in the terms and conditions of their employment as a result of their lawful acts in furtherance of other efforts to stop violations of the FCA. Remedies include reinstatement with comparable seniority as the employee, contractor, or agent would have had but for the discrimination, two times the amount of any back pay, interest on any back pay, and compensation for any special damages sustained as a result of the discrimination, including litigation costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees.
B. NY False Claim Act (State Finance Law §191)
The New York State False Claim Act also provides protection to qui tam relators who are discharged, demoted, suspended, threatened, harassed, or in any other manner discriminated against in the terms and conditions of their employment as a result of their furtherance of an action under the Act. Remedies include reinstatement with comparable seniority as the qui tam relator would have had but for the discrimination, two times the amount of any back pay, interest on any back pay, and compensation for any special damages sustained as a result of the discrimination, including litigation costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees.
C. New York Labor Law §740
An employer may not take any retaliatory action against an employee if the employee discloses information about the employer’s policies, practices or activities to a regulatory, law enforcement or other similar agency or public official. Protected disclosures are those that assert that the employer is in violation of a law that creates a substantial and specific danger to the public health and safety or which constitutes health care fraud under Penal Law §177 (knowingly filing, with intent to defraud, a claim for payment that intentionally has false information or omissions). The employee’s disclosure is protected only if the employee first brought up the matter with a supervisor and gave the employer a reasonable opportunity to correct the alleged violation. If an employer takes a retaliatory action against the employee, the employee may sue in state court for reinstatement to the same, or an equivalent position, any lost back wages and benefits and attorneys’ fees. If the employer is a health provider and the court finds that the employer’s retaliatory action was in bad faith, it may impose a civil penalty of $10,000 on the employer.
D. New York Labor Law §741
A health care employer may not take any retaliatory action against an employee if the employee discloses certain information about the employer’s policies, practices or activities to a regulatory, law enforcement or other similar agency or public official. Protected disclosures are those that assert that, in good faith, the employee believes constitute improper quality of patient care. The employee’s disclosure is protected only if the employee first brought up the matter with a supervisor and gave the employer a reasonable opportunity to correct the alleged violation, unless the danger is imminent to the public or patient and the employee believes in good faith that reporting to a supervisor would not result in corrective action. If an employer takes a retaliatory action against the employee, the employee may sue in state court for reinstatement to the same, or an equivalent position, any lost back wages and benefits and attorneys’ fees. If the employer is a health provider and the court finds that the employer’s retaliatory action was in bad faith, it may impose a civil penalty of $10,000 on the employer.