Facts & Figures

The Impact of the False Claims Act

During the last four years, the Department of Justice recovered more than $14.3 billion in settlements and judgments from civil cases involving fraud against the government. Total qui tam recoveries from suits filed by whistleblowers during that period totaled $10.5 billion. Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt said, “The continued success of the department’s False Claims Act enforcement efforts are a testament to the tireless efforts of the civil servants who investigate, litigate, and try these important cases as well as to the fortitude of whistleblowers who report fraud.” Hunt added, “Whistleblowers continue to play a critical role identifying new and evolving fraud schemes that might otherwise remain undetected. Taxpayers have benefited greatly from these individuals who are often required to make substantial sacrifices to bring these schemes to light.” In total, since the Act was amended in 1986, it has returned an astounding $62.1 billion to the U.S. Treasury.

Each year the Department of Justice reports on the significant success of False Claims Act cases brought by individual citizens. In the years immediately after 1986 when the False Claims was amended, most qui tam cases involved fraud by defense contractors against the Pentagon. For instance, from 1998 through 1992, health care accounted for approximately 15% of all new qui tam cases. More recently, however, the number of health care fraud qui tam cases has been rising steadily. During 2018 and 2019, almost 70% of all new qui tam cases involved allegations of fraud against government-funded health insurance programs, such as Medicare,  Medicaid and Tricare.

The government’s most recent figures demonstrate the significant growth in numbers of cases and dollars recovered through qui tam actions since the False Claims Act was amended in 1986. The government reports that over 13,000 qui tam cases have been filed since 1986 with an average of 660 being filed during each of the last five years.

Of the over $44.7 billion that has been recovered through qui tam suits, only $2.8 billion — about 6% of all qui tam recoveries — has occurred in cases that were declined by the Department of Justice. The Department of Justice reports that it intervenes in less than 22% of the qui tam cases that are filed.

Relator’s share awards when the Department of Justice decides to participate in the action have totaled $6.7 billion or approximately 16% of the proceeds recovered.

You can download the 2019 False Claims Act statistics published by the Department of Justice here.