Claims
(a) Claims. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, any person who makes a claim that the person knows or has reason to know (i) Is false, fictitious, or fraudulent; (ii) Includes or is supported by any written statement which asserts a material fact which is false, fictitious, or fraudulent; (iii) Includes or is supported by any written statement that (A) Omits a material fact; (B) Is false, fictitious, or fraudulent as a result of such omission; and (C) Is a statement in which the person making the statement has a duty to include the material fact; or (iv) Is for payment for the provision of property or services which the person has not provided as claimed, shall be subject, in addition to any other remedy that may be prescribed by law, to a civil penalty of not more than $14,308 for each claim. (2) Each voucher, invoice, claim form, or other individual request or demand for property, services, or money constitutes a separate claim. (3) A claim shall be considered made to the Department of Veterans Affairs, or to a recipient or party when such claim is actually made to an agency, fiscal intermediary, or other entity, including any State or political subdivision thereof, acting for or on behalf of the Department of Veterans Affairs, recipient, or party. (4) Each claim for property, services, or money is subject to a civil penalty regardless of whether the property, services, or money is actually delivered or paid. (5) If the Government has made any payment (including transferred property or provided services) on a claim, a person subject to a civil penalty under paragraph (a)(1) of this section shall also be subject to an assessment of not more than twice the amount of the claim or that portion thereof that is determined to be in violation of paragraph (a)(1) of this section. Such assessment shall be in lieu of damages by the Government because of the claim.