Bill would require healthcare providers to educate staff about the False Claims Act

Under a provision in the budget bill passed by the Senate on November 4 (and agreed to by the House on November 18) healthcare providers who receive Medicaid funds would have to educate staff about the False Claims Act. The education requirement would apply to providers who receive at least $1 million in Medicaid funds annually.

The Deficit Reduction Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 2005 would also encourage states to implement their own false claims acts by increasing their share of false claims recoveries.

The False Claims Act has recovered nearly $16 billion since 1986, with more than $1.5 billion in fiscal 2005.

You can read more about the proposed bill in the December 5, 2005 issue of Modern Healthcare.