West Virginia MPJE (Pharmacy Jurisprudence) Practice Exam

What law made falsely billing Medicare and Medicaid a federal crime?

1. Kefauver-Harris Amendment of 1962

2. Poison Prevention and Packaging Act of 1970

3. Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906

4. Federal False Claims Act of 1982

The correct answer is: Federal False Claims Act of 1982

The Federal False Claims Act of 1982 specifically addresses the issue of fraud against government programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, by making it a federal crime to submit false claims for payment. This law allows the government to prosecute individuals or entities that knowingly submit misleading or incorrect information to receive payments from these programs. The significance of this legislation lies in its efforts to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure program integrity, focusing on accountability in healthcare billing practices. By imposing severe penalties for violations, it serves as a deterrent against fraud, thereby promoting trust in the healthcare system and protecting vulnerable populations who rely on these services. Other options listed relate to different aspects of healthcare and pharmaceutical regulation but do not address the specific issue of false billing to government health programs.