MEDICAID FRAUD BILL HEADS TO EXECUTIVE SESSION

In a tight special session focused on cuts, one interesting bill on Medicaid Fraud is moving forward.  It’s sponsored by a bi-partisan group of legislators, including Sen. Pflug and Sen. Frockt, both of which have garnered high marks for being creative when it comes to health policy lately.

The bill would provide stronger tools for citizens and the state both to be able to file claims against fraudulent activity.  Supporters of the bill claim this would amount to $660 million for the state in collections with no negative financial impact. It also has an emergency clause that allows it to take effect immediately, thus providing a possible vehicle to book new revenues to offset looming cuts next year.

For some, like WSHA and WSMA , that all sounds a little too rosey.  From WSMA’s “Monday Memo” this week:

“The WSMA opposes legislation that grants extraordinary rights to whistleblowers with bounty hunter incentives to aggressively, and frivolously, pursue health care providers on behalf of the state (the “qui tam” concept). The WSMA supports strong Medicaid fraud regulations.”

The bill had a public hearing in the Senate Health and Long Term Care committee on the 8th.  It is scheduled for executive session today.