Latest news with #FalseClaimActs
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DOJ targeting DEI campus initiatives under fraud law
The Department of Justice on Monday announced a new initiative aimed at going after university campuses for antisemitism and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts. DOJ said the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative will use the False Claim Acts, a law which previously has rarely been used against universities, to investigate if schools knowingly violated civil rights law while receiving federal funding. 'Institutions that take federal money only to allow anti-Semitism and promote divisive DEI policies are putting their access to federal funds at risk,' said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. 'This Department of Justice will not tolerate these violations of civil rights – inaction is not an option.' Schools that are found to violate the False Claim Acts could receive hefty fines, according to a staff memo, but extreme cases could lead to criminal prosecution. The initiative will be a combination of the department's Civil Fraud Section and Civil Rights Division. 'America has watched a tidal wave of anti-Semitism sweep our universities and seen public institutions codify inherently divisive policies like DEI at an unprecedented rate,' said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. 'The days of using federal funds to further discrimination are over,' he added. The Justice Department is encouraging anyone with 'knowledge of discrimination' to file a complaint under the False Claims Act. The initiative comes a week after the Justice Department announced it was investigating Harvard under the False Claims Act for its admission policies. It is also part of the Trump administration's larger campaign to pressure universities to eliminate DEI as it takes away billions of dollars in funding to institutions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
DOJ targeting DEI campus initiatives under fraud law
The Department of Justice on Monday announced a new initiative aimed at going after university campuses for antisemitism and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts. DOJ said the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative will use the False Claim Acts, a law which previously has rarely been used against universities, to investigate if schools knowingly violated civil rights law while receiving federal funding. 'Institutions that take federal money only to allow anti-Semitism and promote divisive DEI policies are putting their access to federal funds at risk,' said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. 'This Department of Justice will not tolerate these violations of civil rights – inaction is not an option.' Schools that are found to violate the False Claim Acts could receive hefty fines, according to a staff memo, but extreme cases could lead to criminal prosecution. The initiative will be a combination of the department's Civil Fraud Section and Civil Rights Division. 'America has watched a tidal wave of anti-Semitism sweep our universities and seen public institutions codify inherently divisive policies like DEI at an unprecedented rate,' said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. 'The days of using federal funds to further discrimination are over,' he added. The Justice Department is encouraging anyone with 'knowledge of discrimination' to file a complaint under the False Claims Act. The initiative comes a week after the Justice Department announced it was investigating Harvard under the False Claims Act for its admission policies. It is also part of the Trump administration's larger campaign to pressure universities to eliminate DEI as it takes away billions of dollars in funding to institutions.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Walgreens to pay $2.8 million in alleged Medicaid overbilling lawsuit
BOSTON — Walgreens has agreed to pay over $2.8 million in settlement agreements in violation of federal, Georgia and Massachusetts False Claim Acts. The settlement alleges Walgreen Co. inflated prices for generic medications to Georgia and Massachusetts Medicaid programs. Both the Georgia and Massachusetts Medicaid programs are jointly funded and administered programs that cover medical costs, including medication costs for people with limited income. The programs reimburse pharmacies for distributing generic medication at the lowest of four price points. One of the price points is the 'usual and customary price' which is generally the amount a pharmacy is willing to take. The lawsuit alleges that, between 2008 and 2023, Walgreens' pharmacies submitted a higher 'usual and customary price' to the MassHealth and Georgia Medicaid programs for certain generic medications at certain times. By failing to report the correct price, Walgreens' pharmacies allegedly caused both programs to pay more for generic medications than they should have. Under the Georgia, Massachusetts and federal False Claims Acts, private parties may sue on behalf of the government and receive a share of a recovery. WRBL has reached out to the Georgia Attorney General's office, but has not received a comment at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
