Friday, June 1, 2012

Medicaid Fraud Control Units Performance Updates and Pitfalls

Previously, I submitted public comment on the performance standards for State Medicaid Fraud Control Units which specifically identified the inherent issues of conflict of interest within referral programs.

What should be extracted as a sample specimen for further observation is this part of the published rule:
A MFCU may also investigate and prosecute abuse and neglect in ‘‘board and care’’ facilities, such as assisted living facilities, even if such facilities do not receive Medicaid payments.
 This is federal jargon for foster care but that is not what is being examined; it's the referrals.

MFCU can not investigate fraud, waste and abuse in child welfare if a state does create referral mechanisms.  In Michigan there is an obscure public act which is ignored as were my attempts to force the state to enforce its own law.

The OIG is to assess the performance of these Units.  We can only wait for me to introduce legislation to create a culture of accountability.  Of course, I must be elected, first.  This is why Michigan is set to loose hundreds of millions more in Medicaid funding for lack of compliance, its pitfall.  A lack of enforcement runs the risk of the state loosing out, again, on educational funding opportunities like the Race to the Top as criteria for eligibility is all interconnected with how we treat our children of the state,

So far, Michigan does not have a very good record, reflected in its high rates of infant mortality and child poverty.

We will just have to wait and watch.
Revision of Performance Standards for State Medicaid Fraud Control Units 2012Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

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