According to a Department of Justice press release the DOJ recovered a record $3.1 Billion in settlements and judgments in cases involving allegations of fraud against the government.  $1.3 billion of the recoveries were initiated by whistleblowers under the federal qui tam whistleblower statute.  Of the recoveries, 72% ($2.2 billion) were related to health care fraud. 

It is apparent from this development that false claims actions are on the rise, so physicians and other providers who have not yet developed compliance policies and procedures to prevent false claims and whistleblower actions by their employees are well advised to do so.