The report released Friday also said the state terminated 194 providers from participating in Medicaid in fiscal year 2005-2006, up from 28 during fiscal year 2004-05.
Both the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration and the state Attorney General's Office have units investigating fraud in Florida's $15 billion Medicaid system.
The teams investigate fraud involving doctors, nursing homes, pharmacies, medical equipment companies and other providers. Some of the crimes include overbilling or billing the government for services not provided. Since 2003, the state fraud units made more than 200 arrests, resulting in 123 convictions, the report showed.
Local state attorneys prosecute those arrested, and civil suits also are pursued.
This past fiscal year, the state's investigations led to the recovery of $74,872,888 in taxpayer funds, up from $41,872,801 in fiscal year 2004-2005, the report showed.
Also, the fraud teams prevented $37 million in overpayments, the report showed. Prevention techniques include a prepayment review system, denied payments and recommendations for termination when providers are suspected of misuse of the system.
The report also showed that the 194 providers barred from participating in Medicaid included 80 doctors and 30 home and community-care entities
http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll ... 30018/1075
This is just one year.. The social pressures for everyone to have more, look perfect and just be better off are truly disgusting. Dang Americans have no idea how good they have it. The medical world is far from the bottom of the scale either. White collar crimes get such light sentances as well.. I hope somebody got jailed versus just terminated from participation and fined.
