Family Counseling Services False Claims Act

and Whistleblower Provisions Policy and Procedure

Purpose:

Family Counseling Services is committed to prompt, complete, and accurate billing of all services provided to individuals. Family Counseling Services and its employees, contractors, and agents shall not make or submit any false or misleading entries on any claim form. No employee, contractor, or agent shall engage in any arrangement or participate in such arrangement at the direction of another person, including any supervisor or manager that results in the submission of a false or misleading entry on claim forms or documentation of services that result in the submission of a false claim.

It is the policy of Family Counseling Services to detect and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse in federal healthcare programs. This Policy explains the Federal False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. §§ 3729 – 3733), the Administrative Remedies For False Claims (31 USC Chapter 38 §§3801-3812), the New York State False Claims Act (State Finance Law §§187-194), and other New York State laws concerning false statements or claims and employee protections against retaliation. This policy also sets forth the procedures Family Counseling Services has put into place to prevent violations of federal or New York State laws regarding fraud or abuse in its health care programs.

This policy applies to all employees, including management, contractors, and agents.

For purpose of this policy, a contractor or agent is defined as:

  • Any contractor, subcontractor, agent, or other person which or who, on behalf of the Agency, furnishes, or otherwise authorizes the furnishing of Medicare and/or Medicaid health care items or services, performs billing or coding functions; or
  • Any contractor, subcontractor, agent, or other person who provides administrative or consultative services, goods or services that are significant and material, are directly related to health care provision, and/or are included in or are a necessary component of providing items or services of Medicaid-funded programs; or
  • Any contractor, subcontractor, agent, or other person who is involved in the monitoring of health care provided by the Agency.

Overview of Relevant Laws:

The False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. §§ 3729-3733)

The False Claims Act is a federal law designed to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse in federal healthcare programs, including Medicaid and Medicare. Under the False Claims Act, anyone who “knowingly” submits false claims to the Government is liable for damages up to three times the amount of the erroneous payment plus mandatory penalties of $5,000 to $10,000 for each false claim submitted.

The law was revised in 1986 to expand the definition of “knowingly” to include a person who:

  • Has actual knowledge of falsity of information in the claim;
  • Acts in deliberate ignorance of the truth or falsity of the information in the claim; and
  • Acts in reckless disregard of the truth or falsity of the information in a claim.

False Claims suits can be brought against individuals and entities. The False Claims Act does not require proof of a specific intent to defraud the Government. Providers can be prosecuted for a wide variety of conduct that leads to the submission of a false claim.

Some examples include:

  • Knowingly making false statements
  • Falsifying records
  • Submitting claims for services never performed or items never furnished
  • Double/duplicate billing for items or services
  • Using false records or statements to avoid paying the Government
  • Falsifying time records used to bill Medicaid or
  • Otherwise causing a false claim to be submitted.

 Whistleblower or “Qui Tam” Provisions

In order to encourage individuals to come forward and report misconduct involving false claims, the False Claims Act contains a “Qui Tam” or whistleblower provision.

The Government, or an individual citizen acting on behalf of the Government, can bring actions under the False Claims Act. An individual citizen, referred to as a whistleblower or “Relator,” who has actual knowledge of allegedly false claims may file a lawsuit on behalf of the U.S. Government. If the lawsuit is successful, and provided certain legal requirements are met, the whistleblower may receive an award ranging from 15% – 30% of the amount recovered.

Employee Protections

The False Claims Act prohibits discrimination by Family Counseling Services against any employee for taking lawful actions under the False Claims Act. Any employee who is discharged, demoted, harassed, or otherwise discriminated against because of lawful acts by the employee in False Claims actions is entitled to all relief necessary to make the employee whole. Such relief may include reinstatement, double back pay, and compensation for any special damages, including litigation costs and reasonable attorney fees.

Administrative Remedies for False Claims (31 USC Chapter 38. §§3801-3812):

This federal statute allows for administrative recoveries by federal agencies including the Department of Health and Human Services, which operates the Medicare and Medicaid Programs. The law prohibits the submission of a claim or written statement that the person knows or has reason to know is false, contains false information, or omits material information. The agency receiving the claim may impose a monetary penalty of up to $5,500 per claim and damages of twice the amount of the original 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 imposition of fines and penalties is made by the administrative agency, and not by prosecution in the federal court system.

New York State Laws:

A) Civil and Administrative Laws

New York State False Claims Act (State Finance Law §§187-194)

 The New York State False Claims Act closely tracks the federal False Claims Act. It imposes 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 be responsible for the government’s legal fees.

The Government, or an individual citizen acting on behalf of the Government (a “Relator”), can bring actions under the New York State False Claims Act. If the suit eventually concludes with payments back to the government, the party who initiated the case can recover 15% – 30% of the proceeds, depending upon whether the government participated in the suit. The New York State False Claims Act prohibits discrimination against an employee for taking lawful actions in furtherance of an action under the Act. Any employee who is discharged, demoted, harassed, or otherwise discriminated against because of lawful acts by the employee in furtherance of an action under the False Claims Act is entitled to all relief necessary to make the employee whole.

Social Service 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 up to three times the amount of the incorrectly paid claim. In the case of non-monetary false statements, the local Social Service district or State 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 five years, a penalty up to $7,500 may be imposed if they involve more serious violations of the Medicaid rules, billing for services not rendered, or providing excessive services.

Social Service 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 and the person’s family needs are not taken into account for a period of six months to five years, depending upon the number of offenses.

B) Criminal Laws

Social Service 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.

Social Service Law § 366-b, Penalties for Fraudulent Practices

Any person who, with intent to defraud, presents for payment any false or fraudulent claim for furnishing services or merchandise, knowingly submits false information for the purpose of obtaining Medicaid compensation greater than that to which he/she is legally entitled to, or knowingly submits false information in order to obtain authorization to provide items or services shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

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.

Penal Law Article 155, Larceny

The crime of larceny applies to a person who, with intent to deprive another of property, obtains, takes or withholds the property by means of a trick, embezzlement, false pretense, false promise, including a scheme to defraud, or other similar behavior. This law has been applied to Medicaid fraud cases.

Penal Law Article 175, Written False Statements

There are four crimes in this Article that relate to filing false information or claims. Actions include falsifying business records, entering false information, omitting material information, altering a district’s business records, or providing a written instrument (including a claim for payment) knowing that it contains false information. Depending upon the action and the intent, a person may be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor or a Class E felony.

Penal Law Article 176, Insurance Fraud

This Article applies to claims for insurance payment, including Medicaid or other health insurance. The six crimes in this Article involve intentionally filing a false insurance claim. Under this article, a person may be guilty of a felony for false claims in excess of $1,000.

Penal Law Article 177, Health Care Fraud

This Article establishes the crime of Health Care Fraud. A person commits such a crime when, with the intent to defraud Medicaid (or other health plans, including non-governmental plans), he/she knowingly provides false information or omits material information for the purpose of requesting payment for a health care item or service and, as a result of the false information or omission, receives such a payment in an amount to which he/she is not entitled. Health Care Fraud is punished with fines and jail time based on the amount of payment inappropriately received due to the commission of the crime.

New York Labor Law §740

An employer may not take any retaliatory personnel 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.

This law offers protection to an employee who:

  • discloses, or threatens to disclose, to a supervisor or to a public body an activity, policy, or practice of the employer that is in violation of law, rule, or regulation that presents a substantial and specific danger to the public health or safety, or which constitutes health care fraud (knowingly filing, with intent to defraud, a claim for payment that intentionally has false information or omissions);
  • provides information to, or testifies before, any public body conducting an investigation, hearing, or inquiry into any such violation of a law, rule, or regulation by the employer; or
  • objects to, or refuses to participate in, any such activity, policy, or practice in violation of a law, rule, or regulation.

The employee’s disclosure is protected under this law only if the employee first brought up the matter with a supervisor and gave the employer a reasonable opportunity to correct the alleged violation. The law allows employees who are the subject of a retaliatory action to bring a suit 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 care 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.

New York Labor Law §741

Under this law, 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 under this law only of 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 the 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 care 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.

Policy:

  1. Family Counseling Services will provide training/education in this policy and procedure to all its employees, contractors, and agents. This training will be provided to all new employees as part of new employee orientation.
  1. Family Counseling Services will perform billing activities in a manner consistent with the regulations and requirements of third party payors, including Medicaid and Medicare.
  1. Family Counseling Services will conduct regular auditing and monitoring procedures as part of its efforts to assure compliance with applicable regulations.
  1. Any employee, contractor, or agent who has any reason to believe that anyone is engaging in false billing practices or false documentation of services is expected to report the practice according to Family Counseling Service’s Reporting of Compliance Issues and Whistleblower Policy and Procedure.
  1. Any form of retaliation against any employee who reports a perceived problem or concern in good faith is strictly prohibited.
  1. Any employee who commits or condones any form of retaliation will be subject to discipline up to, and including, termination.

 Procedures:

  1. The Director of Finance and Human Resources will ensure that all employees and agents receive training/education related to the contents of this policy and the False Claims Act. The documentation of receipt of the training will be maintained in the employee’s personnel file.
  1. The Director of Finance and Human Resources will assure that this policy and procedure is communicated to outside contractors and vendors.

Rev 2/2015