Question

The False Claims Act provides for: a. Paying any legitimate Medicare or Medicaid bill b. Making it a criminal offense to defraud any health care benefit program c. People bringing claims to share in any court-awarded damages d. Jail sentences for all violators

Answer 1

The False Claims Act allows whistleblowers to share in any court-awarded damages when they bring claims against entities defrauding government programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

Step-by-step explanation:

The False Claims Act is a federal law that allows individuals to file lawsuits on behalf of the government against entities committing fraud against government programs like Medicare and Medicaid. One of the provisions of the False Claims Act is to allow people who bring claims, known as whistleblowers or 'relators,' the right to share in any court-awarded damages. Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is (c) People bringing claims to share in any court-awarded damages.

This law is significant in the context of healthcare because it incentivizes individuals to report fraudulent activities related to government-funded programs, helping to maintain the integrity of these necessary services. It's important to note that while the False Claims Act has civil penalties, criminal charges may also apply under different statutes for defrauding healthcare benefit programs.