Governor’s Column - August 18, 2006
by Governor Matt Blunt
Fighting Fraud in Welfare
When I was a candidate for governor I pledged to fight fraud, waste and abuse in our Medicaid program and to ensure tax dollars went to Missourians truly in need of assistance.
This year's state budget directed more of your tax dollars to Medicaid than any other in our state's history, a fact we must keep in mind while we continue to fight fraud, waste and abuse of our social welfare programs. Since January 2005 we have achieved $139.7 million in savings by identifying and eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in our Medicaid system. The Department of Social Services has launched new programs designed to improve efficiency. The department's Contract Compliance Unit monitors all related contracts for fiscal accountability and searches for potential misuse of vital Medicaid dollars. The department's Fraud and Abuse Detection System works to identify Medicaid billings that appear to be outside the norm for the given service and to help improve the department's ability to ensure that claims and payments are accurate.
During the last legislative session I called on the General Assembly to pass strong legislation targeted at Medicaid provider fraud. The Senate passed a good anti-fraud bill that would give Missouri similar tools as the federal government to fight Medicaid provider fraud. The legislation's opponents claim the bill, which I support, is too harsh.
How can you be too harsh on those who knowingly commit fraud, steal from taxpayers and rob our most vulnerable from assistance they truly need? One phony argument made by opponents is that the bill will go after well intentioned doctors who make a mistake. This is not true. The legislation is clear that we are going after those who knowingly commit fraud, not those who make innocent mistakes on paperwork.
Medicaid fraud is stealing. It should be treated as the crime it is and dealt with in a serious manner. The issue of targeting waste, fraud and abuse is key to our reform efforts. We must pass a tough Medicaid fraud bill to stiffen penalties against those caught defrauding Missouri taxpayers and help rid the Medicaid system of fraudulent activities.