What is the False Claims Act?

The False Claims Act (FCA) is a federal law in Washington designed to protect whistleblowers and the public by incentivizing those who report fraud and other illegal activities. The FCA prohibits any person or organization from submitting false claims to the federal government for payment, including Medicaid and Medicare. False claims can include overbilling, providing false information on government contracts, and submitting false reports of labor or materials used. The FCA also creates a civil action that allows individuals who report fraud or other illegal activities to file a lawsuit on behalf of the government. Known as a qui tam lawsuit, the whistleblower can receive a portion of any money recovered from the defendant. The FCA also has provisions for awarding whistleblowers financial rewards for assisting the government in recovering funds lost due to false claims. The FCA is an important tool for protecting public funds and ensuring that fraud is detected and appropriately punished. Under Washington state law, whistleblowers who provide information that results in a successful FCA action are entitled to a percentage of the recovered funds. Additionally, any individual who is retaliated against for reporting false claims is protected by federal law. This means that workers cannot be fired, demoted, or harassed for bringing a FCA claim.

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What is the False Claims Act?

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