June 18, 2019
A consultant in South Dakota who allegedly caused multiple states to submit up to five years of false quality control data to the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has agreed to pay $751,571 to resolve her liability under the False Claims Act. Though funded by the federal government, SNAP relies on states to ensure that food stamp benefits are awarded correctly and error rates are accurately reported. To incentivize lower error rates, the USDA reimburses states for certain quality control expenses and pays bonuses to states with the lowest and most improved error rates. Julie Osnes was retained by multiple states to lower error rates but gave improper advice, causing the states to report false information and receive bonuses they were not entitled to. Through settlements with three of the states—Alaska, Virginia, and Wisconsin—the federal government has recovered $17 million. USAO EDWA
Tagged in: FCA Federal, Government Programs Fraud,