Dentist Medicaid Fraud Lawsuits, Dentist Office       Medicaid Fraud Whistleblower Lawsuits,       Dentist Unnecessary Work Medicaid Fraud Lawsuits, Medicare Upcoding        Fraud Lawsuits, Dental Upcoding Medicaid Fraud, Dentist       Double Billing       Medicaid Fraud Lawsuits, and Dentist Office Qui Tam Whistleblower  Lawsuits 
by Texas Dentist Medicaid Fraud Whistleblower Lawyer Jason S. Coomer
       by Texas Dentist Medicaid Fraud Whistleblower Lawyer Jason S. Coomer
Dentist        Medicaid Fraud is on the rise and it is important that        Dentist Medicaid Whistleblowers and Dentist Medicare        Whistleblowers come forward and blow the whistle on        Dentists that are committing Medicaid fraud and Medicare        fraud.  These Dentist Medicaid Fraud Whistleblower Lawsuits        and Dentist Medicare Fraud Whistleblower Lawsuits can        result in large recoveries for not only for the        government, but for the brave whistleblower that becomes        a successful relator and is able to collect a portion of        the recovered money.  
Dentist Medicaid Fraud Lawsuits in the News, Dentist        Alleged to Have Committed Medicaid Fraud, and          Unnecessary Dental Work Medicaid Fraud, Dental         Upcoding Medicaid Fraud, and Dentist Office Qui Tam Whistleblower  Lawsuits       
Several Dentists, Dental Management        Companies, Dental Clinics, and Dentist Office        Professionals, have been the subject of Dentist Medicaid        Fraud Whistleblower Lawsuits and Government crackdowns        on Dental Medicaid Fraud and Dental Medicare Fraud.         These Dental Medicaid Fraud Whistleblower Lawsuits,        Dentist Medicare Fraud Whistleblower Lawsuits, and        government crackdowns have uncovered unnecessary dental        treatments, dentist Medicaid fraud, Medicaid fraud        kickbacks, dental Medicare fraud, and other dental        Medicaid fraud that were endangering children and        costing taxpayers millions of dollars.
National Dental Management        Company Pays $24 Million to Resolve Fraud Allegations        Medically Unnecessary Dental Services Allegedly        Performed on Children 
WASHINGTON - The United States today        announced that it has settled False Claims Act        allegations against FORBA Holdings LLC, a dental        management company that provides business management and        administrative services to 69 clinics nationwide known        as "Small Smiles Centers." Under the agreement, FORBA        will pay the United States and participating states $24        million, plus interest, to resolve allegations that it        caused bills to be submitted to state Medicaid programs        for medically unnecessary dental services performed on        children insured by Medicaid, which is funded jointly by        the federal and state governments. FORBA has further        agreed to put in place various remedial measures        designed to prevent similar unlawful conduct from        occurring in the future. The government’s investigation        of individual dentists is ongoing, and FORBA is        cooperating with that investigation by providing        information about dentists who may have violated        professional standards. 
The United States alleged that FORBA        was liable for causing the submission of claims for        reimbursement for a wide range of dental services        provided to low-income children that were either        medically unnecessary or performed in a manner that        failed to meet professionally-recognized standards of        care. These services included performing pulpotomies        (baby root canals), placing crowns, administering        anesthesia (including nitrous oxide), performing        extractions, and providing fillings and/or sealants. 
"We have zero tolerance for those who        break the law to exploit needy children," said Tony        West, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division        of the Department of Justice. "Illegal conduct like this        endangers a child’s well-being, distorts the judgments        of health care professionals, and puts corporate profits        ahead of patient safety." 
Assistant Attorney General West        praised the collaborative efforts of the federal and        state agencies that made this result possible. The        Justice Department’s Civil Division and the U.S.        Attorneys’ Offices for the District of Maryland, the        Western District of Virginia, the District of South        Carolina, and the District of Colorado handled these        cases. The Civil Division led the nationwide        investigation, which was conducted by the Office of        Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human        Services, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the        National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units.       
To resolve the allegations against        it, FORBA will pay $24 million, plus interest. The        federal share of the civil settlement is $14,285,645,        and the states’ Medicaid share is $9,714,355.25. In        addition, as part of the settlement, FORBA has agreed to        enter into an expansive five-year Corporate Integrity        Agreement with the Office of Inspector General of the        Department of Health and Human Services. The agreement        provides for procedures and reviews to be put in place        to avoid and promptly detect conduct similar to that        which gave rise to this matter. Specifically, FORBA must        engage external reviewers to monitor its quality of care        and reimbursement processes. In addition, the chief        dental officer must develop and implement policies and        procedures to ensure that the Small Smiles clinics        provide services consistent with professionally        recognized standards of care. FORBA has also agreed to        cooperate in the government’s continuing investigation        of individual dentists. 
"We will not tolerate Medicaid        providers who prey on vulnerable children and seek        unjust enrichment at taxpayers’ expense," said Daniel R.        Levinson, Inspector General of the U.S. Department of        Health and Human Services. "This settlement reaffirms        our commitment to protect the health and well-being of        Medicaid beneficiaries and to ensure the integrity of        this essential health care program." 
"Health care providers must be held        accountable when they mistreat patients and overcharge        insurers," said Rod J. Rosenstein, U.S. Attorney for the        District of Maryland. "We are committed to using our        affirmative civil enforcement authority to protect        patients from inadequate care and protect governmental        health coverage programs from fraudulent charges." 
The government’s investigation was        initiated by three lawsuits filed under the qui tam, or        whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act, which        permit private citizens to sue on behalf of the United        States and share in any recovery. These actions are        pending in the U.S. District Courts for the District of        Maryland, the Western District of Virginia, and the        District of South Carolina. As part of today’s        resolution, the three whistleblowers will receive        payments totaling more than $2.4 million from the        federal share of the settlement. 
"In this case, FORBA put greed and        profits before the well-being of children," said Timothy        J. Heaphy, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of        Virginia. "It endangered the health and safety of        innocent children and defrauded the taxpayer of millions        of dollars. Today’s settlement addresses these egregious        acts and sends a clear message that Medicaid fraud will        be expeditiously addressed by this Department." 
This settlement with FORBA is part of        the government’s emphasis on combating health care        fraud. One of the most powerful tools in that effort is        the False Claims Act, which the Department of Justice        has used to recover approximately $2.2 billion since        January 2009 in cases involving fraud against federal        health care programs. The Justice Department’s total        recoveries in False Claims Act cases since January 2009        have topped $3 billion.
Heartland Dental To Pay $3 Million In Civil Settlement Includes $1.3 Million for DEA Registration Violations
APR 14 -- (Springfield, IL) - An        Illinois company that manages dental practices in 12        states and its chief executive officer have agreed to a        $3 settlement million to the United Stated and Illinois        under terms of two settlement agreements. Heartland        Dental, Incorporated, which is headquartered in        Effingham, Illinois, and Richard E. Workman, Heartland’s        CEO, have agreed to pay $1,650,000 to resolve        allegations of improper billing to Illinois Medicaid. In        a related settlement, Heartland Dental will pay the U.        S. $1,350,000 to resolve allegations that newly hired        dentists issued prescriptions prior to registration with        the DEA as a means to generate revenue for Heartland.       
The $1.3 million settlement will        resolve allegations that Heartland Dental allowed newly        hired dentists to use the DEA resigration number of        other Heartland dentists to issue prescriptions. Under        the Controlled Substances Act, a DEA registration number        allows healthcare providers, including dentists, to        distribute and prescribe controlled substances. The        allegation that Heartland misused DEA registration        numbers resulted in pharmacies unwittingly submitting        claims to Medicaid for invalid prescriptions. There were        no allegations the prescriptions at issue were not        otherwise medically necessary or that any patients were        injured as a result of the prescriptions. 
“We take seriously the abuse and        misuse of DEA registration numbers in the prescribing of        controlled substances,” stated Gary G. Olenkiewicz,        Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s Chicago Field Division.       
“The DEA appreciates our law        enforcement partnership and commitment with the FBI,        Illinois State Police, the Illinois Attorney General’s        Office, U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services and the        United States Attorney’s Office that made this a        successful investigation.” 
Under terms of a five-year consent        decree with DEA, Heartland Dental is prohibited from        violating the Controlled Substances Act and agrees to        permit DEA investigators to conduct administrative        inspections as necessary to confirm compliance with the        act without requiring the investigators to obtain        administrative inspections warrants. 
In addition to the DEA violations,        under terms of the settlements, while denying the        allegations and legal claims, Heartland resolves        allegations that from August 1999 through October 2005,        it falsely billed Illinois Medicaid for certain        procedures: submitting claims for crown buildups,        non-covered services, as restorations and claims for        surgical extractions which were or should have been        simple extractions. 
U.S. Attorney for the Central        District of Illinois, Rodger A. Heaton stated, “This        multi-million dollar settlement is the latest successful        result by our outstanding health care fraud team. We        remain committed to work together with our partners to        recover monies that have been improperly diverted from        Medicare and Medicaid, and where appropriate, seek        criminal and civil penalties for those who benefit from        the unlawful diversion.” 
According to FBI Special Agent in        Charge Karen E. Spangenberg, health care fraud        investigations are among the highest priority        investigations within the FBI’s White Collar Crime        Program. The FBI conducts between 2,000 and 3,000 new        health care fraud investigations each year, by using        resources in both the private and public arenas, through        partnerships with various federal state and local        agencies. 
Heartland Dental will pay $1.65        million to the U.S. and Illinois related to a “whistle        blower” qui tam lawsuit filed in 2003 by Lori Jamison        under the federal False Claims Act and Illinois’        Whistleblower Reward and Protection Act. These acts        permit private citizens to bring lawsuits on behalf of        the United States or the State of Illinois and receive a        portion of the employee proceeds of any settlement or        judgment awarded against a defendant. Ms. Jamison, a        former employee of one of Heartland’s predecessor        entities, will receive $412,500 as her share of the        settlement. Heartland has further agreed to pay Jamison        an additional $325,000 for dismissal of additional        claims, including expenses, attorney’s fees and related        costs. 
The investigation and negotiations        with Heartland Dental were conducted by the U.S.        Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois,        the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Office of the        Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and        Human Services, the Illinois State Police Medicaid Fraud        Control Unit, the Illinois Attorney General’s Office,        and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
North Carolina Dental Services        Chain Pays $10 Million to Resolve False Claims        Allegations 
WASHINGTON – Medicaid Dental Center (MDC),        a privately-owned chain of dental clinics in North        Carolina previously known as Smile Starters and Carolina        Dental Center, has reached a settlement with the United        States and North Carolina to resolve False Claims Act        allegations, the Justice Department announced today.        Under the agreement, MDC agreed to pay $10,050,000 to        resolve allegations that it caused false or fraudulent        claims for payment to be presented to the North Carolina        Medicaid program by billing for medically unnecessary        dental services performed on indigent children. 
The United States and the state of        North Carolina alleged that MDC and its ownership,        including Michael A. DeRose , DDS, P.A., and Letitia L.        Ballance, DDS, were liable under the False Claims Act        for submitting claims for reimbursement for performing        pulpotomies that were not medically necessary.        Pulpotomies are considered medically necessary in        pediatric dental cases when an infection in a tooth        spreads into the pulp chamber of the tooth, requiring        the pulp’s removal. This procedure is often referred to        as a “baby root canal.” 
MDC and its ownership also were        alleged to have submitted claims for reimbursement for        placing stainless steel crowns that were not medically        necessary and for failing to obtain informed consent for        all medical procedures and services. The settlement is        limited to claims submitted to the North Carolina        Medicaid program and does not involve any other states.       
“These dentists subjected their child        patients to invasive and sometimes painful procedures,        often for the sake of obtaining money from the North        Carolina Medicaid program,” said Jeffrey S. Bucholtz,        the acting Assistant Attorney General for the        Department’s Civil Division. 
Both Dr. DeRose and Dr. Ballance have        been disciplined by the North Carolina Board of Dental        Examiners. Both entered into consent orders with the        Board on December 8, 2005. Under the terms of these        consent orders, each of the dentists agreed not to        contest allegations that dentists employed and trained        by MDC performed excessive treatment on seven of MDC’s        pediatric patients by performing pulpotomies and placing        stainless steel crowns when they were not warranted or        supported by x-rays or appropriate diagnostic        documentation. As part of today’s settlement, the Office        of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health        and Human Services has expressly reserved its exclusion        authority against MDC and Drs. DeRose and Ballance. 
“Health care professionals who abuse        their positions and engage in excessive treatment        regimens and excessive billing practices will not be        tolerated,” said Gretchen C.F. Shappert, U.S. Attorney        for the Western District of North Carolina. “The North        Carolina Medicaid Program was not created for        self-enrichment. It is a public trust. Individuals who        use their professional skills to take advantage of that        trust will be investigated and held to account for their        actions.” 
“This settlement with the Medicaid        Dental Center demonstrates the commitment of the Office        of Inspector General and our law enforcement partners to        protect our Nation’s children,” said Daniel R. Levinson,        Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and        Human Services. “The Medicaid program is intended to        assist the most vulnerable Americans and to help ensure        that they receive necessary health services, not to        unjustly enrich others at the expense of indigent        persons.” 
The investigation and settlement of        the case was conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for        the Western District of North Carolina and the        Department’s Civil Division, along with the Federal        Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Service’s        Office of Postal Inspection, the Department of Health        and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and the        North Carolina Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud        Investigations Unit.
Dentist Medicaid Fraud Lawsuits, Dental Medicaid Fraud Lawsuits, Medicaid Fraud Dentist Office Federal False Claims Act Whistleblower Lawsuits, Unnecessary Dental Work Medicaid Fraud, Dental Upcoding Medicaid Fraud, and Dentist Office Qui Tam Whistleblower Lawsuits
Dentists, Dental        Clinics, Dentist Groups, and other health care        professionals that take Medicaid and Medicare payments        including Federal Medicaid Benefits and State Medicaid        Benefits are becoming more common.  These Dental        and Orthodontic Groups take payments from federal and        state funded programs for providing basic dental        services to individuals and families.  However, in        order to increase profits some of these dental clinics,        dental groups, orthodontists, dentists, and orthodontic        groups provide false billing statements to the        government including double billing, triple billing,        billing for services not provided, upcoding, or billing        for unnecessary services.  This billing fraud is        dental Medicaid Billing Fraud, orthodontic Medicaid        Billing Fraud, dental Medicare Billing Fraud, and        orthodontic Medicare Billing Fraud.
It is important for families with        children needing dental care or orthodontic care to be        able to obtain these services as well as elderly people        to be able to obtain dental care and orthodontic care,        but it is also important that health care fraud        including Medicare Fraud and Medicaid Fraud are stopped.         Dental Medicaid Fraud Whistleblowers, Dentist Medicare        Fraud Whistleblowers, Orthodontist Medicaid Fraud        Whistleblowers, Orthodontic Medicaid Fraud        Whistleblowers, and other Medicare Fraud and Medicaid        Fraud Whistleblowers are an essential necessary part of        identifying and stopping health care fraud.
Dentist Medicaid Fraud Lawsuits, Dental Clinic        Medicaid Fraud Lawsuits, Orthodontist Medicaid Billing        Fraud Lawsuits, Double Billing Medicaid Fraud and        Unnecessary Dental Work Medicaid Fraud Lawsuits, Dental        Upcoding Medicaid Fraud Lawsuits, and Dentist Qui Tam  Whistleblower Lawsuits       
As Medicaid and Medicare spending        increases, some health care providers including dentists        and orthodontists are making false claims for services        including billing for services not provided, upcoding        services, double billing, and providing unnecessary        services.  As such, it is important for Dentists,        Orthodontists,  Dentist Office Managers,        Orthodontics Office Managers, Medicaid Billing Clerks,        Medicaid Coders, and other Dental Professionals to        become Medicaid whistleblowers to seek compensation on the        government's behalf from companies and people that have        defrauded taxpayers out of government money.  Qui        Tam Dental Medicaid Fraud        Whistleblower Lawyer Jason Coomer helps Medicaid Fraud  whistleblowers        and Medicare Fraud Whistleblowers        determine if they may have a viable Dental Medicaid        Fraud lawsuit, Orthodontics Medicaid Fraud lawsuit,        Dentist Medicare Fraud Lawsuit, or Orthodontic Medicaid        Fraud lawsuit.
Medicaid Billing Fraud Lawsuits, Medicare        Billing Fraud Lawsuits, and the Increase in Medicare and        Medicaid Spending       
Medicaid is a public health care        problem in the United States that provides health care,        dental care, and orthodontic care for eligible        individuals and families with low incomes and resources.        The Medicaid Program is jointly funded by state and        federal governments, but is managed by the states.         Medicaid is the largest source of funding for medical        and health-related services for people with limited        income in the United States and the Medicaid program has        been increasing.  The fastest growing aspect of        Medicaid is nursing home coverage and this is expected        to continue as the Baby Boomer generation begins to        reach nursing home age.  
Unlike Medicare, which is solely a        federal program, Medicaid is a joint federal-state        program. Each state operates its own Medicaid system.         Each state's Medicaid Program must conform to federal        guidelines in order for the state to receive matching        funds and grants.  For many states Medicaid has        become a major budget issue as on average the state's        matching costs of the Medicaid program is about 16.8% of        state general funds. According to CMS, the Medicaid        program provided health care services to more than 46.0        million people in 2001. In 2008, Medicaid provided        health coverage and services to approximately 49 million        low-income children, pregnant women, elderly persons,        and disabled individuals. Federal Medicaid outlays were        estimated to be $204 billion in 2008.  Medicaid        payments currently assist nearly 60 percent of all        nursing home residents and about 37 percent of all        childbirths in the United States. The Federal Government        pays on average 57 percent of Medicaid expenses. 
Texas Dentist Medicaid Fraud Lawsuits, Texas Dental        Medicaid Fraud Lawsuits, Texas Orthodontist Medicaid        Billing Fraud Lawsuits, South Texas Medicaid Orthodontic        Group Medicaid Billing Fraud, South Texas Medicaid        Billing Fraud Whistleblower Lawsuits, Texas Medicaid        Fraud Double Billing Lawsuits, Texas Unnecessary Dental        Work Medicaid Fraud, South Texas Dental Upcoding        Medicaid Fraud Lawsuits, and Dentist Office Qui Tam Whistleblower  Lawsuits       
The Medicaid program in Texas spend        about $10 Billion annually on providing health care        benefits to the poor.  The Texas Medicaid program        includes dental work including check ups, fillings, and        braces.  Of the Medicaid services provided, it is        thought that there is an increasing amount of Medicaid        Billing Fraud that could be costing tax payers hundreds        of millions of dollars each year. 
As such, it is vitally important for        Texas Medicaid Fraud Whistleblowers to step up and blow        the whistle on Medicaid Billing Fraud.  Texas        Medicaid Whistleblowers, Texas Orthodontic Medicaid        Fraud Whistleblowers, and Texas Dentist Medicaid Billing        Fraud Whistleblowers need to step up and blow the        whistle to stop this Medicaid Fraud.  By filing         Texas Dentist Medicaid Fraud Lawsuits, Texas Dental        Medicaid Fraud Lawsuits, Texas Orthodontist Medicaid        Billing Fraud Lawsuits, South Texas Medicaid Orthodontic        Group Medicaid Billing Fraud, South Texas Medicaid        Billing Fraud Whistleblower Lawsuits, Texas Medicaid        Fraud Double Billing Lawsuits, Texas Unnecessary Dental        Work Medicaid Fraud, South Texas Dental Upcoding        Medicaid Fraud Lawsuits, and Dentist Office Qui Tam        Whistleblower Lawsuits, Texas Whistleblowers can save        the Texas and the United States hundreds of millions of        dollars and may be able to recover tens of millions of        dollars themselves if they are successful relators. 
The Increase in Government Health Care Spending        including Medicare Spending, VA Spending, Tricare        Spending, and Medicaid Spending is creating More Health        Care Fraud, Medicare Fraud, Medicaid Fraud, and VA        Medical Fraud and the need for more Medicaid Billing        Fraud Whistleblower Lawsuits, Medicare Billing Fraud        Whistleblower Lawsuits, and other Health Care Fraud        Whistleblower Lawsuits       
The United States government as well        as several state governments are stepping up efforts to        crackdown on Health Care Fraud, Medicare Fraud, and        Medicaid Fraud that are costing taxpayers hundreds of        billions of dollars.  These efforts include        encouraging Medicaid Fraud Whistleblowers and Medicare        Fraud Whistleblowers to come forward as well as setting        up task forces that are taking down criminals that are        involved in Medicaid Fraud and Medicare Fraud.
Health Care Fraud costs United States        Tax Payers approximately $90 billion each year through        Medicare, Medicaid, and other government health care        programs.  Because the Medicare budget, the        Medicaid Budget, the VA Budget, the TRICARE Budget,        Medicaid Fraud, and Medicare Fraud are continuing to        increase each year, it is vitally important that       Medicare         Fraud Whistleblowers,       Medicare  Fraud        Upcoding Fraud Whistleblowers,              Medicare Medicaid Fraud Hospital Whistleblowers,              Hospice Medicare Fraud Whistleblowers, and              Medicare Medicaid Fraud Nursing Home Whistleblowers        continue to step forward and blow the whistle on health        care fraud.
For more information on Medicare        Fraud and Medicaid Fraud, please go to the following        pages on Health Care Fraud, Medicare Fraud, and Medicaid        Fraud              Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program Report        and              Medicaid Fraud Interagency Coordination Report shows        that tens of millions of dollars of Medicaid over        payments are made each year.  These overpayments        are often the results of double billing, false billing,        upcoding, and other types of Medicaid Fraud that costs        Tax Payers significant amounts of money.
Medicare is Different from Medicaid, but both        Medicare Billing Fraud Whistleblowers and Medicaid        Billing Fraud Whistleblowers are needed to File Medical        Billing Fraud Lawsuits
In 2009, the Medicare program covered        an estimated 45 million persons and this number is        expected to grow as about 7,000 people a day are        reaching retirement age.  As millions of people are        added to the Medicare budget each year, the cost of the        Medicare budget is expected to grow.  
The Medicare program consists of four distinct  parts which are        funded differently: 
-         Part A (Hospital Insurance, or HI) covers inpatient hospital services, skilled nursing care, and home health and hospice care. The HI trust fund is mainly funded by a dedicated payroll tax of 2.9% of earnings, shared equally between employers and workers.
-         Part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance, or SMI) covers physician services, outpatient services, and home health and preventive services. The SMI trust fund is funded through beneficiary premiums (set at 25% of estimated program costs for the aged) and general revenues (the remaining amount, approximately 75%).
-         Part C (Medicare Advantage, or MA) is a private plan option for beneficiaries that covers all Part A and B services, except hospice. Individuals choosing to enroll in Part C must also enroll in Part B. Part C is funded through the HI and SMI trust funds.
-         Part D covers prescription drug benefits. Funding is included in the SMI trust fund and is financed through beneficiary premiums (about 25%) and general revenues (about 75%).[27]
Spending on Medicare and Medicaid is        projected to grow dramatically in coming decades. While        the same demographic trends that affect Social Security        also affect Medicare, rapidly rising medical prices        appear to be a more important cause of projected        spending increases.
Economic Incentives for Whistleblowers         Lawsuits, Government Fraud Lawsuits, and Qui Tam Lawsuits 
When a government imposes a         penalty, for the doing or not doing an act, and         gives that penalty in part to whistleblowers that         will sue for the same, and the other part of the         recovery goes to the government, and makes it         recoverable by action, such actions are called "qui         tam actions", the plaintiff is suing on their own         behalf as well for the government and taxpayers. 
Qui tam provisions of the False         Claims Act are based on the theory that one of the         least expensive and most effective means of         preventing frauds on taxpayers and the government is         to make the perpetrators of government fraud liable         to actions by private persons acting under the         strong stimulus of personal ill will or the hope of         gain. 
The strong public policy behind         creating an economic gain for whistleblowers is that          the government would be significantly less likely to         learn of the allegations of fraud, but for persons         in certain positions with specialized knowledge of         fraud that has been committed. Congress has made it         clear that creating this economic incentive is         beneficial not only for the government, taxpayers,         and the realtor, but is an efficient method of         regulating government to prevent fraud and         fraudulent schemes.
The central purpose of the qui         tam provisions of the False Claims Act is to set up         incentives to supplement government regulation and         enforcement by encouraging whistleblowers with         specialized knowledge of fraud going on in the         government to blow the whistle on the crime.         
The whistleblower's share of         recovery is a maximum of 30 percent and the         government's prior knowledge of fraud now does not         necessarily bar a whistleblower from collecting lost         revenue. If the government takes over the         lawsuit, the relator can "continue as a party to the         action." The defendant is also required to pay for         the relator's attorney fees. The whistleblower is         also protected from retaliatory actions by his or         her employer. As a result a 1986 amendment to the         False Claims Act, qui tam lawsuits have increased         dramatically.   Though the amendment was first made         for corrupt defense contractors, the amendment has         uncovered billions of dollars in health care fraud         and will probably apply to fraudulently obtained         TARP and Bail Out Funds. 
Dentist Medicaid Fraud Lawsuits, Dentist Office       Medicaid Fraud Whistleblower Lawsuits, Dentist Unnecessary Work  Medicaid Fraud       Lawsuits, Medicare Upcoding       Fraud Lawsuits, Dental Upcoding Medicaid Fraud Lawsuits,       Dentist Double Billing       Medicaid Fraud Lawsuits, and Dentist Office Qui Tam Whistleblower  Lawsuits       
Through Federal False Claims Act Whistleblower  Lawsuits, Qui Tam        Lawsuits, and other Government Fraud        Lawsuits, hundreds of billions of dollars have been recovered from         fraudulent government contractors that have stolen large amounts  of money from the        government and taxpayers.  Included in the heroes        that have helped recover large amounts of money for        taxpayers are Whistleblowers that have recovered        billions for themselves and a growing number of dentist        Medicaid fraud whistleblowers.  
It is extremely important that        Whistleblowers continue to expose fraudulent billing        practices and unnecessary treatments that cost billions        of dollars.   For more information on Medicaid Fraud Whistleblowers, Medicare Fraud Whistleblowers, Defense Contractor Fraud Whistleblowers, and other American Hero Whistleblowers, feel free to go to the following web pages: Medicare  Fraud,       Defense  Contractor Fraud,        Stimulus  Fraud,               Government Contractor Fraud, Health         Care Fraud lawsuit,              Medicare and Medicaid Fraud Lawsuit,       Defense         Contract Fraud Lawsuit, Government  Fraud        Lawsuits and Dentist Medicaid Fraud Whistleblower Lawsuits.
 
