[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 42, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 42CFR420.405]

[Page 811-812]
 
                         TITLE 42--PUBLIC HEALTH
 
                             HUMAN SERVICES
 
PART 420--PROGRAM INTEGRITY: MEDICARE--Table of Contents
 
Subpart E--Rewards for Information Relating to Medicare Fraud and Abuse, 
  and Establishment of a Program to Collect Suggestions for Improving 
   Medicare Program Efficiency and to Reward Suggesters for Monetary 
                                 Savings
 
Sec. 420.405  Rewards for information relating to Medicare fraud and abuse.

    (a) General rule. CMS pays a monetary reward for information that 
leads to the recovery of at least $100 of Medicare funds from 
individuals and entities that are engaging in, or have engaged in, acts 
or omissions that constitute grounds for the imposition of a sanction 
under section 1128, section 1128A, or section 1128B of the Act or that 
have otherwise engaged in sanctionable fraud and abuse against the 
Medicare program. The determination of whether an individual meets the 
criteria for an award, and the amount of the award, is at the discretion 
of CMS. CMS pays rewards only if a reward is not otherwise provided for 
by law. When CMS applies the criteria specified in paragraphs (b), (c), 
and (e) of this section to determine the eligibility and the amount of 
the reward, it notifies the recipient as specified in paragraph (d) of 
this section.
    (b) Information eligible for reward. (1) In order for an individual 
to be eligible to receive a reward, the information he or she supplied 
must relate to the activities of a specific individual or entity and 
must specify the time period of the alleged activities.
    (2) CMS does not give a reward for information relating to an 
individual or entity that, at the time the information is provided, is 
already the subject of a review or investigation by CMS or its 
contractors, or the OIG, the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau 
of Investigation, or any other Federal, State, or local law enforcement 
agency.
    (c) Persons eligible to receive a reward--(1) General rule. Any 
person (other than one excluded under paragraph (c)(2) of this section) 
is eligible to receive a reward under this section if the person submits 
the information in the manner set forth in paragraph (f) of this 
section.
    (2) Excluded individuals. (i) An individual who was, or is an 
immediate family member of, an officer or employee of HHS or its 
contractors, the SSA, the OIG, a State Medicaid Agency, or the 
Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or any other 
Federal, State, or local law enforcement agency at the time he or she 
came into possession of, or divulged, information leading to a recovery 
of Medicare funds is not eligible to receive a reward under this 
section.
    (ii) Any other Federal or State employee or contractor or an HHS 
grantee is not eligible for a reward under this section if the 
information submitted came to his or her knowledge in the course of his 
or her official duties.
    (iii) An individual who illegally obtained the information he or she 
submitted is excluded from receiving a reward under this section.

[[Page 812]]

    (iv) An individual who participated in the sanctionable offense with 
respect to which payment would be made is excluded from receiving a 
reward under this section.
    (d) Notification of eligibility--(1) General rule. After all 
Medicare funds have been recovered and CMS has determined a participant 
eligible to receive a reward under the provisions of this section, it 
notifies the informant of his or her eligibility, by mail, at the most 
recent address supplied by the individual. It is the individual's 
responsibility to ensure that the reward program has been notified of 
any change in his or her address or other relevant personal information 
(for example, change of name, phone number).
    (2) Special circumstances. (i) If the individual has relocated to an 
unknown address, the individual or his or her legal representative may 
claim the reward by contacting CMS within 1 year from the date on which 
CMS first attempted to notify the individual about a reward. CMS does 
not consider the individual or his or her legal representative eligible 
for a reward more than 1 year after the date on which it first attempted 
to give notice. CMS does not pay interest on rewards that are not 
immediately claimed.
    (ii) If the individual has become incapacitated or has died, an 
executor, administrator, or other legal representative may claim the 
reward on behalf of the individual or the individual's estate. The 
claimant must submit certified copies of the letters testamentary, 
letters of administration, or other similar evidence to show his or her 
authority to claim the reward. The claim must be filed within 1 year 
from the date on which CMS first gave or attempted to give notice of the 
reward.
    (e) Amount and payment of reward. (1) In determining whether it will 
pay a reward and, if so, the amount of the reward, CMS takes into 
account all relevant factors, including the significance of the 
information furnished in relation to the ultimate resolution of the case 
and the recovery of Medicare funds.
    (2) The amount of a reward represents what CMS considers to be 
adequate compensation in the particular case, not to exceed 10 percent 
of the overpayments recovered in the case or $1,000, whichever is less.
    (3) If more than one person is eligible to receive a reward in a 
particular case, CMS allocates the total reward amount (not to exceed 10 
percent of the overpayments recovered in that case or $1,000, whichever 
is less) among the participants.
    (4) CMS bases rewards only on recovered Medicare payments and not on 
amounts collected as penalties or fines.
    (5) CMS makes payments as promptly as the circumstances of the case 
permit, but not until it has collected all Medicare overpayments, fines, 
and penalties.
    (6) No person may make any offer or promise or otherwise bind CMS or 
HHS with respect to the payment of any reward under this section or the 
amount of the reward.
    (f) Submission of information. (1) An individual may submit 
information on persons or entities engaging in, or that have engaged in, 
fraud and abuse against the Medicare program to the Office of the 
Inspector General, or to the Medicare intermediary or carrier that has 
jurisdiction over the suspected fraudulent provider or supplier.
    (2) A participant interested in receiving a reward must provide his 
or her name, address, telephone number, and any other requested 
identifying information so that he or she may be contacted, if 
necessary, for additional information and, when applicable, for the 
payment of a reward upon resolution of the case.
    (g) Confidentiality. CMS does not reveal a participant's identity to 
any person, except as required by law.
    (h) Finding of ineligibility after reward is accepted. If, after a 
reward is accepted, CMS finds that the awardee was ineligible to receive 
the reward, the Government is not liable for the reward and the awardee 
must refund all monies received.