Any vendor of medical care who willfully submits a cost report, rate application or claim for reimbursement for medical care which the vendor knows is a false representation and which results in the payment of public funds for which the vendor is ineligible shall, in addition to other provisions of Minnesota law, be subject to an action by the state of Minnesota or any of its subdivisions or agencies for civil damages. The damages awarded shall include three times the payments which result from the false representation, together with costs and disbursements, including reasonable attorney fees or their equivalent.