A national whistleblower group is calling on the Department of Justice to establish a task force to investigate False Claims Act violations related to the coronavirus epidemic.
The National Whistleblower Center and Washington DC-based law firm Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto, LLP, made the request in a letter dated Monday, Bloomberg Law reported.
“Given that the False Claims Act will cover all federal funding related to the coronavirus (which will be billions of dollars), and already covers the major federally sponsored medical programs, including Medicaid and Medicare, it is imperative that the Department of Justice take prompt and effective action to ensure that no money is defrauded from any program designed to combat the Coronavirus,” the groups wrote.
They added that the task force’s priorities should include a “prompt and aggressive federal response” to any allegations of fraud related to the COVID-19, including cases that impact patient care, and if an allegation has merit, the case should be promptly prosecuted.
“The key during this crisis is to deter anyone from engaging in misconduct in the administration of government sponsored medical or health and safety programs,” the groups added.
Earlier this month, the Department of Justice announced the new National Nursing Home Initiative, which aims to better coordinate and enhance civil and criminal efforts to pursue nursing homes that provide “grossly substandard care to their residents.”
