Tucked behind the high-profile legal challenges to the Environmental Protection Agency and health-care reform, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has ramped up resources for a concerted crackdown on Medicaid fraud and elder abuse in Virginia.
Since taking office in 2010, Cuccinelli has expanded the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit from more than 40 employees to nearly 80 workers, making it the largest section of the office by far.
Over the last 30 years, the unit, which also handles elder abuse and includes lawyers, investigators, nurses, and auditors — has developed a reputation as one of the best in the country, helping to recover nearly $800 million from fraudulent providers. Last year, the unit recovered more than $15 million.
"We're not an accounting firm — this isn't about getting dollars," Cuccinelli said during a recent interview in his office. "It's about stopping criminal activity and fraud and making sure that as many people in Virginia can trust the bill they get at their health-care providers, and that it isn't tainted by somebody stealing."
Cuccinelli said his office is coordinating with more than 200 Triad chapters throughout the state in an expanded effort to educate seniors on elder abuse and help them identify and report Medicaid fraud.
Triad, implemented in Virginia under Gov. Jim Gilmore, is a joint effort between seniors groups, local law enforcement and the attorney general's office to raise the awareness of seniors.
The effort comes at an opportune time — the first baby boomers are turning 65 this year, and crimes against seniors are on the rise.
According to the attorney general, more than 17,000 cases of elder abuse are documented each year in Virginia, with an estimate that only one in five cases of abuse and neglect are reported.
"We're preparing for the demographic coming of an explosion of elderly," said Cuccinelli. "In Virginia, the fact of the matter is that our caseload is more than we have manpower for."
Statistics provided by the office estimate that 10 percent of the $6 billion in federal and state taxpayer dollars paid out by Virginia Medicaid go to fraudulent providers.
The fraud unit is funded largely by federal dollars and money received from settlements with providers. Because health-care fraud has grown over the years, Cuccinelli said the unit more than pays for itself.
But the attorney general said the unit is not only trolling for big fish.
"We've set a policy that no criminal is too small for our attention," he said. "So nobody thinks they're immune from our radar."
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement