Looking beneath that iceberg may show that the insurance industry has also been looting and profiting from the taxpayer trough: (link)
Qui Tam recovery was the subject of the story in the Post – Justice Department Recovers $1.3B in Contracting Fraud.
That brings to $21 billion the amount of money the government has collected through civil fraud suits since the federal False Claims Act was strengthened in 1986, according to a DOJ statement.
“‘Now, more than ever, it is crucial that taxpayer dollars aren’t lost to fraud,’ Gregory G. Katsas, Assistant Attorney General for the Department’s Civil Division, said in the statement. “The billion dollars collected this year is only part of the story. By rooting out fraud and vigorously pursuing it, the Department, with the help of concerned citizens who report fraud in hotline calls and in qui tam complaints, undoubtedly saves the country many times that amount in aborted schemes and misconduct.'”
The False Claims Act is an interesting creature. It enables whistleblowers — known in the vernacular as relators — to get a piece of any cash recovered by the government as a result of their fraud allegations. Last year, the so-called relators scored about $198 million.
A big and growing source of fraud? Healthcare. More from the statement:
“As in the last several years, health care accounted for the lion’s share of fraud settlements and judgments-$1.12 billion. This number includes both qui tam claims and those initiated by the United States. The Department of Health and Human Services reaped the biggest recoveries, largely attributable to its Medicare program and the federal/state Medicaid program which funds health care for the needy. Recoveries were also made by the Office of Personnel Management which administers the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, the Department of Defense for its TRICARE insurance program, the Department of Veterans Affairs and others.
“The largest health care recoveries came from pharmaceutical companies and related entities.”
There are some big numbers cited here. And yet. Is this just the tip of the iceberg? Government Inc. thinks alas it may be.
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Nowdy first Mr CLS nominates you for CNN person of the year and now a link on the WaPo. I hope you remember all us little people when you become famous. 😉
I think Mr Bullstroke just had a Stroke.
sop
You said, “stroke.”
Wow! Haven’t even met’ya and already used’ta know’ya when!
Damn…
…sooo do you mean that you really don’t know the person who left that link in the comments?
I do say though that it is a Correct and Salient link to the Subject matter which –makes the whole thing that much cooler either way.
But, if it was someone else that makes it way mo’betta you know, like outside of family so to speak.
I am so proud anyway of the whole Scheme Thing and this chapter in particular, as you know, or had better know, ya’know?
Editilla, the truth is a bit convoluted. We did not know the ID of our WaPo commenter until yesterday. Somehwere through the haze of Oysters and Martinis I remember Rick telling me this person is a future Federal Judge. 😉
sop
Now that’ll work. HA!
You was the only thing missing was you Editilla.
sop