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|Health Care Fraud and Abuse |
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|Tannisia Brown |
|6/17/2012 |

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Health care fraud is the filing of dishonest health care claims to obtain a profit and is considered a white collar crime. Health care abuse is when someone overuses or misuse services. Both, Health care fraud and abuse, in the United States is an ongoing issue and is costing the United States government billions of dollars. Every time a fraudulent act is perpetrated the insurance company passes the cost to its customers. Due to the high volume of health care fraud statistics shows that 10 cents to every dollar spent on health care goes toward paying fraudulent health care claims. The federal government’s action to fight healthcare fraud and abuse brought forth The False Claims Act (FCA) of 1986. Under the FCA, the United States may sue violators for damages, plus $5,500-$11,000 per false claim. In a further effort to fight fraud and abuse,