Enhancing efforts to prevent fraud in higher education

In the early 1990s, U.S. Attorney General, Janet Reno, made health care fraud a priority in the U.S. department of Justice. Thereafter in 1997, she broadened the Department's initiative to encompass all areas of fraud prevention. As a result of these expanded initiatives, there has been a dramatic increase in whistleblowers and lawsuits. This article describes the case law that is developing as a result of this increase and discusses the importance of need for compliance programs within institutions of higher education such as community colleges. These proposed compliance programes are attempts to assist institutions in identifying weaknesses in their internal systems and administrations and to provide a method for employees and administrators to report potential problems. Finally, this article outlines the essential elements of an effective compliance program plan and encourages educational institutions that receive federal funding to take appropriate measures to ensure that a comprehensive and responsible compliance plan is in place.