The OIG has released its Medicaid Fraud Control Units Fiscal Year 2013 Annual Report, which highlights achievements from the investigations and prosecutions conducted by the 50 MFCUs along with related OIG oversight activities. In FY 2013, MFCUs nationwide reported a total of 1,341 criminal convictions in cases involving Medicaid fraud and patient abuse and neglect, and nearly $1 billion in criminal recoveries. Criminal convictions involved a variety of provider types, most notably home health agencies. MFCUs also obtained 879 civil settlements and judgments in FY 2013. Civil recoveries totaled over $1.5 billion, with cases involving a variety of provider types, particularly pharmaceutical companies. More than 1,000 Medicaid providers convicted in MFCU cases were excluded from federal health care programs by the OIG in FY 2013. The OIG notes that a lack of fraud referrals to MFCUs from Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) presents challenges, and MCFU officials expressed concern that some MCOs may not have incentive to refer providers suspected of fraud. The OIG also determined that ACA provider payment suspension rules require more coordination between MFCUs and State Medicaid agencies.
