Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Encourages Senate to Act on Medicaid Fraud Bill
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt called on the Missouri Senate today to advance a bill that would stiffen penalties against Medicaid service providers caught defrauding Missouri taxpayers and would help rid the Medicaid system of fraudulent activities.
The legislation, Senate Bill 1210, sponsored by Sen. Chris Koster is scheduled for floor debate this week. If enacted, Missouri would become the 17th state to adopt Federal False Claims legislation making the state eligible for federal resources to help combat Medicaid fraud, which costs the state millions annually.
“This legislation will help continue our strong efforts to fight Medicaid fraud and ensure that scarce state resources are getting to those in need,” Blunt said. “This was an issue that was completely ignored by previous administrations. We owe it to hardworking Missouri taxpayers to ensure we have a system that is free of fraud and one that seeks to punish those caught trying to game the system.”
To combat fraud in Missouri’s social welfare programs Blunt directed the Department of Social Services to conduct eligibility checks before adding new people to the rolls and to annually verify those receiving benefits are truly eligible. These coupled with other actions enabled Blunt’s administration to recognize more than $138 million in savings for Missouri taxpayers.
Blunt’s administration led the effort last year to end a contract with a non-emergency medical services provider that was costing taxpayers more than $40 million per year, due in part to a poorly written contract by the previous administration. Blunt’s administration entered into an agreement with better provisions for Missouri taxpayers with a new provider that is saving the state nearly $15 million annually.
Blunt is also actively supporting legislative efforts to rewrite Missouri’s social welfare programs and is a strong advocate of using technology to help improve the delivery of healthcare services.
###