Restoring private individual authority to bring a qui tam claim against a person for making a false claim for medical assistance, actions by the attorney general against a person for making a false claim for medical assistance, and providing a penalty

What it would have done

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

This bill restores a private individual's authority to bring a qui tam claim against a person who makes a false claim for medical assistance, which was eliminated in 2015 Wisconsin Act 55 . A qui tam claim, as it relates to the Medical Assistance program under the bill, is a claim initiated by a private individual on his or her own behalf and on behalf of the state against a person who makes a false claim for medical assistance. The bill provides, as did the law before 2015 Wisconsin Act 55 took effect, that, of moneys recovered as a result of a qui tam claim, a private individual may be awarded up to 30 percent of the amount recovered, depending upon the extent of the individual's contribution to the prosecution of the action. The individual may also be entitled to reasonable expenses incurred in bringing the action, as well as attorney fees. This bill also includes additional changes not included in the prior law to conform state law to the federal False Claims Act, including expanding provisions to facilitate qui tam actions and modifying the bases for liability to parallel the liability provisions under the federal False Claims Act.

In addition to qui tam claims, the Department of Justice has independent authority to bring a claim against a person for making a false claim for medical assistance. This bill modifies provisions relating to DOJ's authority to parallel the liability and penalty standards relating to qui tam claims, specifically, applying the definition of the term “claim” and the forfeiture amounts provided under the federal False Claims Act.

Who's behind it

5 representatives are its authors⁠. All 5 are Democrats.

1 more lawmaker signed on in support⁠.