Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Senator Chuck Grassley made the following statement after the Taxpayers Against Fraud Education Fund released a report showing that the False Claims Act provides a 20:1 benefit to cost ratio in fighting health care fraud for the federal government.
Grassley is the author of the 1986 law updating the federal False Claims Act. His qui tam amendments empower whistleblowers to file suit on behalf of the federal government against contractors who fraudulently claim taxpayer dollars. The law is the most successful tool of the federal government in rooting out fraud against the federal treasury, and has helped recover nearly $35 billion in taxpayer funds that would otherwise be lost.
"Time and time again the False Claims Act has proven its worth to taxpayers. The law has empowered whistleblowers to come forward, risk their careers and root out the shady characters looking to give the taxpayer a bad deal. In 1986 the focus was defense contractors. Now, proving the law's flexibility and value, it's the most effective tool against health care fraud, as evidenced by the report released today.
"The threats to this successful law are constant. Any efforts to undermine this successful law should be met with skepticism by the courts and Congress."
