Legislators Attempt to Crack Down on Medicaid Fraud

Missouri legislators try to crack down on people taking advantage of a system set up to help those who need it. Today(Thursday) members of the Special House Committee heard what doctors had to say about appending medicaid fraud bills. Doctors say stricter laws are a prescription for disaster. Meanwhile it`s getting harder for people on medicaid to find doctors to treat them. Doctors say the pay is poor...and the cost is high. But it`s a problem that can only get worse. Depending on the passing of a proposed House and Senate bill. "Our House version offers an incentive for people to turn in fraud when the see it. It also produces whistleblowers when they do that. We thought it would be an affective way to reduce fraud without hurting access. The Senate bill is has a thing called a "qui tam" provision or a private cause of action for people to sue providers when they`re suspected of fraud. It also contained really severe penalties on providers," says Representative Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph. "If this law passes you`re going to see a lot more physicians at the retirement age retire. You`ll see a mass exit from this state," says Dr. James Conant. Doctors say tougher laws against medicaid fraud set them up to fail. Because when errors on your medical bill show up..... fingers are pointed at the doctors. And in many cases making errors on medicaid bills can be impossible to avoid. "The proces of billing is complex and the likelihood of making and error is high," says Dr. Robert Gibbons. Doctors say giving doctors a hefty punishment for simple mistakes...could be a mistake of its own. The Special House Committee chaired by St. Joseph`s Dr. Rob Schaaf....will take physician concerns and propose a medicaid fraud bill that is acceptable for all.