Fraud by program in Colorado
| Program | Announcements | More |
|---|---|---|
| PPP/EIDL | 12 | Colorado PPP/EIDL cases |
| Unemployment | 3 | All Unemployment cases |
| Medicare | 1 | All Medicare cases |
| TRICARE | 1 | All TRICARE cases |
| Other federal program | 1 |
Where to report fraud in Colorado
| Type of fraud | Report to |
|---|---|
| Medicaid provider fraud | Medicaid Fraud, Abuse & Neglect Unit (MFANU) · Office of the Attorney General, Colorado Department of Law · 720-508-6696 |
| SNAP, child care assistance, cash assistance | Colorado Department of Human Services: Report fraud (Colorado Works/TANF, SNAP, LEAP, child support, Medicaid eligibility; hotline 877-934-6361) |
| Unemployment benefits | Colorado Department of Labor and Employment: Report Fraud (unemployment) |
| Medicare and other HHS programs | HHS-OIG · 1-800-HHS-TIPS |
| Any WHIP-covered federal program, if you want a reward | America.gov/fraud (how to submit) |
Whistleblower rewards in Colorado
| Program | What it pays | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado False Claims Act Covers all state and political subdivision funds, but excludes Medicaid claims (covered by the separate Colorado Medicaid False Claims Act), income subsidies, and individual government-assistance payments under $10,000 per calendar year (§ 24-31-1202) | 15–25% if the state proceeds; 25–30% if it does not (§ 24-31-1204(5)) | C.R.S. §§ 24-31-1201 et seq. |
| Colorado Medicaid False Claims Act Covers Medicaid / health care only | 15–25% if the state proceeds; 25–30% if it does not (§ 25.5-4-306(4)) | C.R.S. §§ 25.5-4-303.5 to 25.5-4-310 |
| Federal WHIP | $10,000–$30,000 per tip that leads to criminal charges | DOJ terms |
| Federal False Claims Act | 15–25% of the recovery if the government intervenes; 25–30% if not | 31 U.S.C. § 3730(d) |
Colorado has two qui tam laws: the Colorado Medicaid False Claims Act, which HHS-OIG approved for the DRA on 12/28/2016, and a general Colorado False Claims Act passed in 2022 (HB22-1119). The general act does not cover Medicaid claims or individual government-assistance payments under $10,000 a year, so ordinary benefit-recipient fraud mostly falls outside qui tam. drAQualified applies only to the Medicaid act. Statute text was read from colorado.public.law, which cites the official C.R.S. 2024 PDF on leg.colorado.gov. Medicaid recipient fraud goes to HCPF (855-375-2500).
Estimate federal awards for your case with the calculator, or compare programs in WHIP vs the False Claims Act.
Latest announcements
Source: U.S. Department of Justice press releases, classified by WHIP Reward. Each row is one press release; the same case can appear at several stages, so amounts should not be added. Charged cases are allegations. Search all 14 in the database.
Frequently asked questions
How do I report Medicaid fraud in Colorado?
Report provider fraud to the Medicaid Fraud, Abuse & Neglect Unit (MFANU) (Office of the Attorney General, Colorado Department of Law), or to the HHS Office of Inspector General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS. To be eligible for a federal WHIP award, also submit the tip in writing at America.gov/fraud.
Does Colorado pay whistleblowers?
Yes. Under the Colorado False Claims Act (C.R.S. §§ 24-31-1201 et seq.), a whistleblower who files a case receives 15–25% if the state proceeds; 25–30% if it does not (§ 24-31-1204(5)). Federal programs (WHIP and the federal False Claims Act) apply as well.
How many fraud cases has the DOJ announced in Colorado?
14 announcements since January 20, 2025 in our database, counting each press release separately (a case can appear at charge, plea and sentencing). 7 of them announced a sentence.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Justice: Whistleblower Rewards Program
- coag.gov/file-complaint/medicaid
- colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_24-31-1202
- colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_24-31-1204
- colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_25.5-4-306
- leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB22-1119
- oig.hhs.gov/fraud/state-false-claims-act-reviews
- cdhs.colorado.gov/report-fraud-to-colorado-department-of-human-services
- cdle.colorado.gov/unemployment/report-fraud
- U.S. Department of Justice press releases (justice.gov/news)