SB13-205 Summary

• Increases civil penalties for false Medicaid claims from $5,000-$10,000 to $5,500-$11,000, with automatic adjustments tied to federal False Claims Act inflation penalties.

• Removes the six-year statute of limitations for restitution and civil penalty actions under the Medicaid False Claims Act, establishing a three-year limit for private retaliation actions instead.

• Expands retaliation protections to cover employees, contractors, and agents (beyond just relators) who are discharged, demoted, or harassed for reporting violations or supporting false claims actions.

• Restricts private whistleblower actions when substantially the same allegations were publicly disclosed in state criminal, civil, or administrative proceedings unless the relator qualifies as an original source with direct knowledge or materially new information.

• Prevents courts from dismissing actions against state legislators, judiciary members, or elected executives based on publicly disclosed information if the state opposes the action.