Mississippi House Bill 351 - Summary

• Prohibits false or fraudulent claims against state health plans and establishes civil penalties of $5,000-$10,000 per violation plus up to three times actual damages incurred by the state.

• Authorizes the state to file civil actions and allows private citizens to file qui tam actions on behalf of the state, with complaints initially filed under seal for at least 60 days before the state decides whether to intervene.

• Provides whistleblower protections prohibiting retaliation against employees, contractors, and grantees who report violations or participate in investigations, with remedies including reinstatement, double lost wages, and punitive damages.

• Awards successful qui tam relators 15-25% of recovered proceeds if the state intervenes, or 25-30% if the state does not intervene, plus reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses.

• Requires the Attorney General to report annually to the Legislature on civil actions filed, judgments entered, and settlements reached under the act, including defendant information and amounts recovered.