A Practice Note discussing the False Claims Act (FCA) (31 U.S.C. §§ 3729 to 3733) and how the government uses the FCA to prosecute fraud, waste, and abuse in the health care and life sciences industries. This Note describes the elements of the FCA, citing recent health care and pharmaceutical FCA cases, and explains how damages are calculated, how to avoid additional liability through self-disclosure, and the rules about reporting and returning overpayments. This Note explains the relationship between the FCA and the Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Law. It also cites changes to the FCA under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This Note is based on federal law with reference to state laws where applicable.