**GAO-02-546**                      Published: Apr 05, 2002. Publicly Released: Apr 05, 2002.                  

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## Highlights

The Department of Justice (DOJ) recovered more than $1.2 billion in health care fraud cases in fiscal year 2001. The False Claims Act bolstered DOJ's recoveries and  enabled the government to seek damages and penalties against providers who knowingly submitted fraudulent bills to Medicare, Medicaid, or other government programs. In the late 1990s, industry representatives voiced concerns that DOJ had over zealously pursued hospitals, conducted unwarranted investigations, and demanded large penalties for unintentional errors. In response, DOJ issued guidance that emphasized the importance of using the act in a fair and even-handed manner and introduced new procedures for national initiatives. DOJ requires all U.S. Attorneys' Offices that pursue civil health care fraud to annually certify their compliance with the guidance. DOJ appears to be conducting its three national initiatives consistent with the guidance. U.S. Attorneys' Offices that GAO visited had coordinated their activities with the national initiative working groups and, as the guidance requires, took each hospital's unique circumstances into consideration in resolving these matters. Representatives from the American Hospital Association and the state hospital associations GAO spoke to were generally satisfied that U.S. Attorneys' Offices were adhering to DOJ's False Claims Act guidance.

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## Topics

Health Care

Billing proceduresFraudHealth care costsHospitalsInvestigations by federal agenciesLaw enforcementMedicareHealth care fraudProspective paymentsPneumonia