Wyoming Medicaid Fraud Control Act Approved By Wyoming Legislature Senator Nethercott lauds passage of bill to combat Medicaid fraud and abuse
Cheyenne, Wyo. – Senator Tara Nethercott (SD-04) lauded the passage today of SF 85 – Wyoming Medicaid Fraud Control Act, important legislation that will help combat Medicaid fraud and abuse. The bill codifies into law the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit as a permanent entity of the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office and gives the unit wide authority to investigate and prosecute Medicaid fraud throughout the state.
“Medicaid fraud is a one-two punch for Wyoming taxpayers,” said Senator Nethercott. “Not only does it hinder the state’s ability to serve the people who need it most, it also increases the costs of healthcare overall.”
“It is our duty, as legislators, to protect Wyoming taxpayers by ensuring their money is being spent on legitimate claims,” continued Senator Nethercott. “This bill makes certain the AG’s Office has the tools it needs to combat Medicaid fraud, ultimately saving hardworking Wyoming families money, improving the overall quality of our healthcare system and protecting the state’s investment.”
SF 85 is co-sponsored by Senator Liisa Anselmi-Dalton, Senator Fred Baldwin, Senator Brian Boner, Senator Ogden Driskill, Senator Dave Kinskey, Senate President Drew Perkins, Representative Mike Greear, Representative Lloyd Larsen, Representative Bill Pownall, Representative Clark Stith, and Representative Sue Wilson. The bill has passed both chambers of the Wyoming Legislature and currently awaits Governor Gordon’s signature to be enacted.
About Wyoming’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit
Wyoming’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is a specialized task force responsible for investigation and prosecution of Medicaid provider fraud as well as abuse, neglect, and exploitation in Medicaid funded healthcare facilities.
The Unit works with many federal and state partners to achieve its mission. In 2018, the Unit prosecuted three cases with United States Attorney’s Office, which resulted in total in over 10 years prison time and $8 million restitution to the Medicaid program.
The Unit also brings civil false claims actions and participates with other states in federal false claims cases. In 2018 the Unit worked with the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit to file suit against Purdue Pharma L.P. for damages caused to the State by the opioid epidemic. The Unit’s civil recoveries in 2018 totaled over $450,000 for the Medicaid program.
Suspected Medicaid fraud can be reported to the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit toll free at 1-800-378-0345. For more information or to report fraud through the Unit's online fraud reporting form, please visit http://ag.wyo.gov/medicaid-fraud-control-unit.
