Gov. Bruce Rauner’s Health Care Fraud Elimination Task Force reported the state has saved, prevented or recovered approximately $450 million in fraudulent or wasteful Medicaid spending in fiscal years 2016 and 2017.
In the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, which manages the state’s $20 billion Medicaid program, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) saved or recouped an estimated $195 million in FY17. Last fiscal year, FY16, HFS-OIG reported $220.2 million in similar savings.
In addition, in FY16 the Illinois State Police Medicaid Fraud Control Unit reported 46 fraud convictions and $35.4 million in recoveries through criminal prosecutions, civil actions and administrative referrals.
“Medicaid fraud is a multibillion-dollar industry in the U.S.,” Rauner said. “Cheating through overpayments or improper billing may seem like a victimless crime to some, but every dollar that is diverted from our health programs is one that could have been spent on a needy beneficiary. That’s a crime our administration won’t tolerate.”
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