STATE FALSE CLAIMS ACT: MARYLAND

FOR the purpose of prohibiting certain actions constituting false claims against a State health plan or a State health program; providing certain penalties for making false claims against a State health plan or a State health program;  requiring the court to consider and give special attention to certain factors in  determining the amount of fines and penalties provided for in this Act;  authorizing the State to file a civil action against a person who makes a false  claim against a State health plan or a State health program under certain  circumstances; authorizing a person other than the State to file a civil action on  behalf of the person and the State against a person who makes a false claim  against a State health plan or a State health program; providing for the  procedures to be followed in a civil action; providing for certain remedies under  a civil action; requiring the State to investigate a civil action alleging a false  claim against a State health plan or a State health program; requiring the State  to make certain efforts to coordinate certain investigations and to establish a  certain objective for the State; authorizing the State to intervene and proceed with the action with or without the person who initiated the action; authorizing  the State to elect not to intervene and proceed with the action;  requiring the court to dismiss the  action if the State elects not to intervene; authorizing the court to limit the  participation of the person who initiated the action under certain circumstances; authorizing the State to pursue alternative remedies; providing for certain damages and payments to the person who initiated the action under certain circumstances; providing for certain payments to the person charged under certain circumstances if the person charged prevails; providing certain limitations on civil actions filed under this Act; prohibiting a person from taking retaliatory action against an employee, contractor, or agent under certain  circumstances; authorizing an employee, contractor, or agent to file a civil  action against a person who takes retaliatory action against the employee, contractor, or agent under certain circumstances; providing certain remedies for retaliatory action; requiring an employer to make certain disclosures to employees; requiring the Comptroller to deposit a certain penalty or damages in the General Fund of the State; requiring certain persons to report certain information annually to the General Assembly; authorizing the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene or the Inspector General of the Department to adopt certain regulations; defining certain terms; and generally relating to false claims against State health plans and State health programs.

BY adding to
Article – Health – General 
Section 2–601 through 2–611 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 6.   
False  Claims Against State Health Plans and State Health
Programs” 
Annotated Code of Maryland