§ 43-7-60 — False claim, statement, or representation by medical provider prohibited; violation is a misdemeanor; penalties.

(A) For purposes of this section: (1) "provider" includes a person who provides goods, services, or assistance and who is entitled or claims to be entitled to receive reimbursement, payment, or benefits under the state's Medicaid program. "Provider" also includes a person acting as an employee, representative, or agent of the provider. (2) "false claim, statement, or representation" means a claim, statement, or representation made or presented in any form including, but not limited to, a claim, statement, or representation which is computer generated or transmitted or made, produced, or transmitted by an electronic means or device. (B) It is unlawful for a provider of medical assistance, goods, or services to knowingly and wilfully make or cause to be made a false claim, statement, or representation of a material fact: (1) in an application or request, including an electronic or computer generated claim, for a benefit, payment, or reimbursement from a state or federal agency which administers or assists in the administration of the state's medical assistance or Medicaid program; or (2) on a report, certificate, or similar document, including an electronic or computer generated claim, submitted to a state or federal agency which administers or assists in the administration of the state's Medicaid program in order for a provider or facility to qualify or remain qualified under the state's Medicaid program to provide assistance, goods, or services, or receive reimbursement, payment, or benefit for this assistance, goods, or services. For purposes of this subsection, each false claim, representation, or statement constitutes a separate offense. (C) It is unlawful for a provider of medical assistance, goods, or services knowingly and wilfully to conceal or fail to disclose any material fact, event, or transaction which affects the: (1) provider's initial or continued entitlement to payment, reimbursement, or benefits under the state's Medicaid plan; or (2) amount of payment, reimbursement, or benefit to which the provider may be entitled for services, goods, or assistance rendered. For purposes of this subsection, each fact, event, or transaction concealed or not disclosed constitutes a separate offense. (D) A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of medical assistance provider fraud, a Class A misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not more than three years and fined not more than one thousand dollars for each offense. (E) In addition to all other remedies provided by law, the Attorney General may bring an action to recover damages equal to three times the amount of an overstatement or overpayment and the court may impose a civil penalty of two thousand dollars for each false claim, representation, or overstatement made to a state or federal agency which administers funds under the state's Medicaid program. Upon a finding that the provider has violated a provision of this section, the state agency which administers the Medicaid program may impose other administrative sanctions against the provider authorized by law. A civil or criminal action brought under this section may be filed or brought in either the county where the false claim, statement, or representation originated or in the county in which the false claim, statement, or representation was received by the Health and Human Services Finance Commission or other agency of the State responsible for administering the state's Medicaid Program.

Legislative History

HISTORY: 1994 Act No. 468, SECTION 1, eff July 14, 1994.