Attorney General Alan Wilson announced efforts his office is making to raise public awareness of crimes against vulnerable adults, including a name change of the unit that investigates and prosecutes the crimes. The announcement comes in recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15th.
Attorney General Wilson acknowledged the work his office’s Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud Unit does to investigate and prosecute these crimes in our state. “This office historically has investigated and prosecuted crimes against vulnerable adults, but a lot of people have no idea we even do that. So today, we are doubling our efforts by increasing awareness through outreach,” Attorney General Wilson said.
The unit that investigated and prosecuted these crimes had been called the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Even many law enforcement officers had no idea the unit handles crimes against vulnerable adults. So, the unit has changed its name to the Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud Unit.
South Carolina’s vulnerable adult population, consisting mainly of older citizens and those with intellectual impairments, are suffering from abuse, neglect, and exploitation, often in plain sight. The Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Fraud Unit has increased outreach efforts to local law enforcement over the last two years and has seen an increase of 30% in the reports coming from law enforcement. This specialized unit works with law enforcement on cases, provides training, and takes referrals. This strategy addresses the experience, training, and manpower issues faced by local law enforcement agencies.
Chief of Orangeburg Public Safety, Charles Austin, spoke briefly to highlight the benefits of the partnerships. Working together, the unit and Orangeburg Public Safety have uncovered heinous crimes and are holding the perpetrators accountable, to restore safety and dignity to the vulnerable adult population. The identified cases throughout the state range from nurses stealing prescription medicine and replacing it with over-the-counter medications to facility administrators locking residents in their rooms with no food, water, prescriptions, or air conditioning.
If you are a member of local law enforcement who wants more information, reach out to the unit today. If you suspect something is wrong, call our hotline, 1-888-NO-CHEAT, and make a report. If our office cannot handle the report, we will get it to the people who can.
Abusers count on the public not reporting. It is only with the partnerships of local law enforcement and an informed public willing to reach out that we can address these problems in all our communities.
The SCMFCU receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $2,698,638 for federal fiscal year 2024. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $899,546 for FFY 2024, is funded by South Carolina.
Original source can be found here.