NY Recovers $263 in Medicaid Fraud

The NY Attorney General announced that it recovered more than $263 million in Medicaid fraud cases in 2008. Whistleblowers helped.

This latest success adds to the already extraordinary track record of whistleblower legislation around the country.

Both the NY Office for the Medicaid Inspector General and the federal OIG talk about working with whistleblowers in their most recent work plans. Some of the targeted investigations common to both OIGs include nursing homes, home health agencies, durable medical equipment, pharmacies, and personal care aides.

Early intervention makes the NY list, an interesting new litigation arena for a potential whistleblower claim because not much has happened in the world of special education fraud under the FCA. Early intervention services are those provided to babies and toddlers with disabilities.

Compliance problems may range from false certifications of qualifications to lying about the provision of a service to over charging to running around and "cleaning up" agency records just before a state or federal audit.

Whistleblowers with inside information about compliance issues in those and several other human service fields can take advantage of the times by coming forward and reporting misuse of government funds. Because of the economy, the Inspectors General are keenly interested in hearing what whistleblowers have to say.