Statutory reward ranges
Under the False Claims Act, if the government intervenes in a qui tam case and recovers funds, the relator generally receives between 15% and 25% of the recovery. If the government declines intervention and the relator wins, the range is typically 25% to 30%.
The court sets the exact percentage based on factors like the relator's contribution, whether the case was based on public information, and whether the relator planned and initiated the fraud.
What counts as recovery
Recoveries include settlements and judgments, plus civil penalties for false claims. Large healthcare cases often involve multi-year conduct and damages multiplied under the FCA — so rewards can be substantial even when individual billings seem small.
Medicare vs. other programs
The same FCA reward framework applies to Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and other federal healthcare spending. State false claims acts may offer additional recovery for state funds.
Getting a case evaluated
Rewards are not guaranteed — weak evidence, first-to-file bars, or public disclosure issues can end a case early. Most qui tam attorneys offer free confidential evaluations on contingency.