FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CIV

THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 1998                                                                                                                           (202) 616-2765

                                                                                                                                                                                 TDD (202) 514-1888





DOJ to Hold Briefing on the Use of False Claims Act in Health Care Fraud Cases




	WASHINGTON, DC--The Department of Justice will hold a media briefing Friday,
April 24, on its use of the False Claims Act to pursue health care fraud, and the negative
effects that proposed changes to the law would create.  




	The False Claims Act is the government's primary tool to recover funds lost to the
Treasury and to the Medicare Trust Fund due to health care fraud.  In the last ten years the
government has used the False Claims Act to recover more than $1.8 billion in cases involving
fraud on the Department of Health & Human Services.




	The health care industry is now lobbying Congress to amend the False Claims Act in
ways that would undermine the government's ability to recover money lost through fraud and
other instances of false billing for health care.




WHAT:	Briefing on Use of False Claims Act in Health Care Fraud Cases




WHO:	Iden Grant Martyn, Principal Deputy Director, Executive Office of U.S.
Attorneys

		Joyce Branda, Deputy Director, Commercial Litigation Branch, DOJ Civil
Division




WHEN:	Friday, April 24, 1998

		2:00 PM




WHERE:	Room 2264 Main Justice Building (AGAC Conference Room)

		10th and Pennsylvania Avenues, NW




	The briefing is open to all federally credentialed reporters -- no cameras.




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