National Association of Boards of Long Term Care Administrator (NAB) CORE Practice Exam

What is another name for the False Claims Act?

1. Whistleblower Act

2. Sunshine Act

3. Stark Act

4. Anti-kickback Act

The correct answer is: Whistleblower Act

The False Claims Act, initially enacted during the Civil War to combat fraud against the federal government, is commonly referred to as the Whistleblower Act. This nickname arises from its provisions that encourage individuals (whistleblowers) to report fraudulent activities or claims made to the government. When whistleblowers come forward with evidence of fraud under this act, they may be entitled to a portion of any recovery made by the government, thereby incentivizing reporting and protecting the integrity of public funds. The other options are distinct pieces of legislation that target different issues. The Sunshine Act pertains to transparency in healthcare, requiring disclosure of payments made to physicians, while the Stark Act mandates specific guidelines regarding physician referrals to avoid conflicts of interest. The Anti-kickback Act aims to prevent the exchange of remuneration for referrals of services reimbursed by federal healthcare programs. Each of these acts plays a separate role in regulatory compliance and healthcare fraud prevention but does not share the same focus or implications as the False Claims Act.