42 CFR § 1003.720 - Determinations regarding the amount of penalties and assessments and period of exclusion.
In considering the factors listed in § 1003.140:
(a) It should be considered a mitigating circumstance if all the violations included in the action brought under this part were of the same type and occurred within a short period of time, there were few such violations, and the total amount claimed or requested related to the violations was less than $5,000.
(b) Aggravating circumstances include but are not limited to:
(1) The violations were of several types or occurred over a lengthy period of time;
(2) There were many such violations (or the nature and circumstances indicate a pattern of false or fraudulent specified claims, requests for payment, or a pattern of violations);
(3) The amount requested or claimed or related to the violations was $50,000 or more; or
(4) The violation resulted, or could have resulted, in physical harm to any individual.