State Medicaid Fraud Control Units Annual Report Fiscal Year 2008

This is the 18th Office of Inspector General (OIG) Annual Report on the State Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCU). This report covers Federal fiscal year (FY) 2008, commencing October 1, 2007, and ending September 30, 2008. During this reporting period, 49 States and the District of Columbia participated in the Medicaid fraud control grant program through their established MFCUs. The mission of the MFCUs is to investigate and prosecute Medicaid provider fraud and patient abuse and neglect. MFCUs’ authority to investigate and prosecute cases varies from State to State. Forty-three of the MFCUs are located within Offices of State Attorneys General. The remaining seven MFCUs are located in various other State agencies. In FY 2008, MFCUs recovered more than $1.3 billion in court-ordered restitution, fines, civil settlements, and penalties. They also obtained 1,314 convictions. MFCUs reported a total of 971 instances in which civil settlements and/or judgments were achieved. Of the 3,129 OIG exclusions from participation in the Medicare, Medicaid, and other Federal health care programs in FY 2008, 755 exclusions were based on referrals made to OIG by the MFCUs. Read More