OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) – Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced that the Joint Legislative Audit Review Committee (JLARC), in a unanimous, bipartisan vote, approved the final audit report for the renewal of Washington’s Medicaid Fraud False Claims Act (FCA).
The review notes that Ferguson’s usage of the FCA has worked well in its first three years, helping the state recover $3 for every $1 invested in enforcement. Additionally, civil fraud recoveries have increase by 28 percent.
Ferguson would like the act to continue, which would require an agency request bill reauthorizing the act sponsored in the senate and a companion House bill. Without this, the current act will expire June 30, 2016.
“Medicaid fraud diverts taxpayer funds meant for legitimate health care needs,” Ferguson said. “This report recognizes the enormous benefit the Medicaid False Claims Act has brought to our state, and what a powerful tool it is in holding fraudsters accountable.”
Since 2012, Ferguson’s office has recovered $6.1 million through the use of the FCA. Without renewal, the state could lose significant federal dollars, as the U.S. government provides a three-to-one dollar match for all state moneys for False Claims Act enforcement.