Clamping down on Medicaid fraud

From the NY Post:

The number of suspected Medicaid-fraud cases handled by state investigators -- ranging from dirty dentists and druggists to millionaires illegally on the dole -- more than doubled last year, according to an explosive new report.

The state Office of Medicaid Inspector General referred 208 cases to Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's office for potential criminal prosecution of health-care providers -- a 136 percent increase from 2008.

Meanwhile, the number of suspected cases of Medicaid-patient fraud referred to local prosecutors also skyrocketed.

For example, the number of suspected forgeries tied to the diversion of prescription drugs jumped from 304 to 683.

Overall, the number of substantiated fraud cases involving Medicaid patients increased 50 percent, the report said. A total of 552 cases were referred to New York City investigators for potential prosecution, the report said.