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Fraud: We All Pay!

The Medicaid and Public Assistance Fraud Strike Force was created during the 2010 Legislative Session to increase the effectiveness of programs and initiatives that work to prevent, detect and prosecute Medicaid and public assistance fraud. CFO Atwater serves as Chair and Attorney General Bondi serves as Vice Chair of the 11-member Strike Force.

For more than a decade, Medicaid has been the fastest growing item in many state budgets. Florida’s Medicaid program accounts for 25 percent, or approximately $20 billion, of the state’s budget. The level of fraud is estimated to account for up to 10 percent of the Medicaid budget. State economists indicate that Medicaid is the state’s biggest cost driver, with projected increases possibly exceeding $400 million this year. From 2005 through 2010, the Public Assistance Fraud Unit referred $18 million in program benefits fraud for prosecution. So far this fiscal year, the unit has received approximately 24,000 referrals for suspected public assistance fraud.

It is CFO Atwater’s goal through the Strike Force to bring all the parties to the table to ensure that the cheats and thieves that are taking Floridians’ hard-earned money end up behind bars.

C F O, Attorney General, Department of Health, Agency for Healthcare Administration

Rewards

Strike Force Rewards Programs

Florida Department of Financial Services Division of Insurance Fraud

The Department of Financial Services, Division of Insurance Fraud, investigates various forms of fraud in insurance, including health, life, auto, property and workers' compensation insurance. Anyone with information about insurance fraud or another possible fraud scheme should call the department's Report Fraud Hotline at 1-800-378-0445. A reward of up to $25,000 may be offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

Florida Office of the Attorney General

Under Florida's False Claims Act (F.S. 68.081) , persons who blow the whistle on Medicaid fraud may be entitled to share in any funds recovered by the state. Florida Statutes Chapter 409.9203 provides that persons reporting Medicaid Fraud may be entitled to a reward for their information. To report fraud or abuse, individuals may use the statewide hotline number or contact the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit nearest them. The statewide hotline number is 1-866-966-7226

Agency for Health Care Administration

The office of the Inspector General at the Agency for Health Care Administration accepts complaints alleging wrong-doing of an Agency employee and suspected fraud and abuse in the Florida Medicaid system. If you suspect Medicaid fraud, contact the fraud and abuse hotline 1-888-419-3456.
Those who report fraud may be entitled to a reward if they report a criminal case that results in a fine, penalty or forfeiture of property. To find out more, call the Attorney General at 1-866-966-7226.

Department of Health

Toll-free Hotline to Report Medicaid Fraud for Possible Reward: 1-866-966-7226

Florida Department of Financial Services Division of Public Assistance Fraud

Division of Public Assistance Fraud