Rutledge’s office details Medicaid fraud unit activities

by Talk Business & Politics staff ([email protected]) 130 views 

Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced Tuesday (Jan. 12) that her office’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit had investigated 108 new cases in 2015, four more than the previous record number and 27 more than the average of 81 cases a year.

The unit along with local prosecutors convicted 26 on criminal charges, 13 for Medicaid fraud and seven for long-term care convictions. Nine personal care attendants were convicted, as were one nurse and two nurses’ aides in abuse and neglect cases.

The unit obtained $173,000 in nursing home abuse and neglect settlements and $475,647.40 from the state’s share of National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units global settlements. The unit also opened 18 drug diversion cases and closed seven.

Rutledge in June reclassified four positions as certified law enforcement officers, the first time the unit has included that profession.