WASHINGTON, DC, March 31, 2026—Six patient organizations representing millions of patients with serious and chronic health conditions filed an amicus brief on Monday in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals case U.S. ex rel. Taylor v. Healthcare Associates of Texas, LLC, et al. The amicus brief supports the constitutionality of whistleblower (“qui tam”) lawsuits under the False Claims Act (FCA), which are a critical enforcement tool for uncovering fraud on government healthcare programs, protecting patients from unnecessary procedures and harmful medical treatment, recovering federal funds, and saving taxpayer dollars. Actual fraud undermines the integrity of government healthcare programs and harms patients by reducing access to care—especially in underserved communities—and increasing costs. A record $6.8 billion was recovered under the FCA in fiscal year 2025 alone, including $5.7 billion involving the healthcare industry. After a jury found the provider defrauded Medicare Advantage by submitting over 21,000 false claims, the provider appealed the jury’s decision and challenged the court’s ruling that the qui tam provision is constitutional. Amici are asking the appellate court to affirm the district court’s ruling on the constitutionality issue.
Below is an excerpt from the brief:
”’The False Claims Act is the government’s primary litigation tool for recovering losses sustained as the result of fraud.’ Whistleblower suits are critical to enforcement of the False Claims Act, leading to nearly $11 billion dollars in direct recoveries—and perhaps $110 billion in deterrence value—in the last five years alone. These figures represent the large majority of the funds recovered under, and protected by, the False Claims Act.
“Whistleblower lawsuits under the False Claims Act also benefit patient welfare. By curbing unnecessary and harmful medical treatments, reducing wasteful spending, and returning much-needed funds to government healthcare programs, whistleblower suits help protect patient health and lower the costs of healthcare.
“Defendant-Appellant’s constitutional challenges to the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act threaten to significantly impair whistleblowers’ critical role in punishing and deterring fraud on the government, including in government healthcare programs. This Court should reject those arguments as a basis for reversal of the judgment below.”
List of organizations on the amicus brief:
| Blood Cancer United | The Epilepsy Foundation of America |
| CancerCare | Muscular Dystrophy Association |
| Cancer Nation | National Patient Advocate Foundation |
About Blood Cancer United
Blood Cancer United® (formerly The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) is the largest global nonprofit focused on blood cancer patient support, research and advocacy. The organization’s mission is to cure blood cancer and improve the quality of life of all patients and their families. To achieve it, Blood Cancer United brings together a community of people, patients and their families, volunteers, healthcare providers, scientists, staff, partners, fundraisers, and philanthropists—who believe all blood cancer patients deserve longer, fuller lives. To learn more, visit www.bloodcancerunited.org.