government
N.Y. steps up Medicaid anti-fraud efforts
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted April 26, 2010
Medicaid fraud convictions in New York state hit a record high in 2009, according to an April report from the state attorney general's office.
The report comes as states, along with the federal government, ramp up efforts to combat fraud, waste and abuse in public health care programs. New York's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit obtained 148 criminal convictions and collected $283 million in stolen funds in 2009, surpassing recoveries obtained in the three prior years.
Settlements and judgments came largely from cases involving phony home health care services, illegal off-label marketing and kickbacks paid by pharmaceutical companies, as well as prescription drug fraud by physicians and pharmacists.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/04/26/gvbf0426.htm.
