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DCAA Issues (Mis)Guidance on Expressly Unallowable Costs

Client Alert | 1 min read | 02.23.15

On January 7, 2015, DCAA issued guidance to auditors for determining whether certain costs are "expressly unallowable" – and therefore subject to penalties – even when the regulations "do not state in direct terms that the cost is unallowable." This guidance, which is intended to "enhance" the equally troubling December 18 guidance to similar effect, is inconsistent with the CAS 405 definition of "expressly unallowable cost" (i.e., "a particular item or type of cost which, under the express provisions of an applicable law, regulation, or contract, is specifically named and stated to be unallowable") and will likely lead to confusion in the audit process and undoubtedly result in DCAA auditors assessing more penalties against contractors on dubious grounds.

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Client Alert | 8 min read | 03.05.26

Fifth Circuit Decision in Health Care Fraud Case Highlights Importance of Careful Drafting in Civil RICO Complaints

A recent decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, Farmers Texas County Mutual Insurance Co. v. 1st Choice Accident & Injury, LLC, No. 24-20275 (5th Cir. Feb. 24, 2026), offers important lessons for health care payors and other potential plaintiffs considering civil claims under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). Although the Fifth Circuit’s decision focused on a procedural issue, the underlying case turned on a fundamental pleading failure: the plaintiff insurers did not adequately describe the fraudulent network they were suing as a RICO “enterprise.” The result was dismissal of a $14 million fraud case....