Florida's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit has recovered more than $400 million since 2007, according to a news release by Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum.
The MFCU was created for the purpose of investigating and prosecuting fraud that involves physicians, pharmacists, hospitals, durable medical equipment suppliers and others suspected of intentionally defrauding the state's Medicaid program.
Attorney General McCollum has led several efforts aimed at eliminating healthcare fraud in Florida, including the creation of the Complex Civil Enforcement Bureau which investigates and litigates allegations of Florida False Claims Act violations. Recently, the MFCU was granted the ability to mine data related to the billing practices of Medicaid providers, and a second task force was created in Florida to combat healthcare fraud.
State and federal law enforcement agencies have increased efforts in recent years to crack down on healthcare fraud perpetrated by healthcare providers. Congress is currently working on legislation that will put $1.7 million toward fighting healthcare fraud, with $116 million of that to go toward expanding Medicare strike forces. The nation's first healthcare fraud summit took place in Florida in July, with Attorney General Eric Holder and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in attendance, to discuss issues related to healthcare fraud.
"This report is a good example of the extent of additional resources state and federal governments are putting into fraud and abuse investigations," notes Scott Becker, JD, CPA.
Read the Attorney General's release about the fraud recovery.
Read other coverage on healthcare fraud in Florida:
- Fraud Allegations Against Urgent Care Chain Owned by Florida Gubernatorial Candidate Rick Scott Sent to HHS
- Second Task Force in Florida Created to Combat Healthcare Fraud
- Manager of Florida ASCs Pleads Guilty to Stealing From Facilities
The MFCU was created for the purpose of investigating and prosecuting fraud that involves physicians, pharmacists, hospitals, durable medical equipment suppliers and others suspected of intentionally defrauding the state's Medicaid program.
Attorney General McCollum has led several efforts aimed at eliminating healthcare fraud in Florida, including the creation of the Complex Civil Enforcement Bureau which investigates and litigates allegations of Florida False Claims Act violations. Recently, the MFCU was granted the ability to mine data related to the billing practices of Medicaid providers, and a second task force was created in Florida to combat healthcare fraud.
State and federal law enforcement agencies have increased efforts in recent years to crack down on healthcare fraud perpetrated by healthcare providers. Congress is currently working on legislation that will put $1.7 million toward fighting healthcare fraud, with $116 million of that to go toward expanding Medicare strike forces. The nation's first healthcare fraud summit took place in Florida in July, with Attorney General Eric Holder and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in attendance, to discuss issues related to healthcare fraud.
"This report is a good example of the extent of additional resources state and federal governments are putting into fraud and abuse investigations," notes Scott Becker, JD, CPA.
Read the Attorney General's release about the fraud recovery.
Read other coverage on healthcare fraud in Florida:
- Fraud Allegations Against Urgent Care Chain Owned by Florida Gubernatorial Candidate Rick Scott Sent to HHS
- Second Task Force in Florida Created to Combat Healthcare Fraud
- Manager of Florida ASCs Pleads Guilty to Stealing From Facilities