Here are five key points:
1. The rule increases the minimum fraud penalty from $5,500 to $10,781 for each false claim someone submits to a government program.
2. The rule also increases maximum penalties from $11,000 per claim to $21,563 per claim.
3. Providers can anticipate the rules to apply to the healthcare industry starting August 2016. By this date, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 requires all agencies to increase their penalty levels to account for inflation.
4. The rule will include penalties under the False Claims Act, which have not had a penalty increase in the last 20 years.
5. While some experts argue the False Claims Act penalties may result in more providers settling claims-related cases, others remain skeptical.
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