Which law says it is illegal to submit false claims or use false records to obtain payment from Medicare or Medicaid?

• A. Anti-Kickback Statute
• B. Stark Law
• C. False Claims Act
• D. Medicare Conditions of Participation

Answer: (C)

The False Claims Act is the law that targets submitting false claims or using false records to obtain payment from Medicare or Medicaid. It makes it illegal to present or cause to be presented to the government any false or fraudulent claims for payment, and it can apply to both the claims themselves and the underlying records used to support them. The act also provides strong remedies, including penalties and potential treble damages, and often includes whistleblower provisions.

The other laws address different issues: the Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering or accepting payments or incentives to influence referrals for federally funded services; the Stark Law restricts physician self-referrals for designated health services when there’s a financial relationship; and Medicare Conditions of Participation are requirements facilities must meet to participate in Medicare, not laws about fraudulent claims.