The Missouri Senate on Tuesday passed a bill (SB 1210) that would reward whistleblowers who report fraud in the state's Medicaid program and increase penalties for convictions, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. People who report fraudulent claims by individuals and medical providers could receive 20% to 35% of the money recovered (Young, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 4/12). Provisions in the bill include:

An increase in the maximum penalty for fraudulent Medicaid claims from five to seven years in prison;

A requirement that individuals convicted of up to $50,000 in Medicaid fraud must serve 85% of their prison sentence;

A requirement that individuals convicted of Medicaid fraud would be banned from the program for life, with an exemption for corporations involved in Medicaid fraud;

A requirement that individuals convicted of Medicaid fraud totaling $10,000 to $50,000 are ineligible for a suspended sentence;

A punishment of one year in prison for individuals who make false fraud accusations; and

A felony charge for individuals who accept bribes in exchange for not reporting fraud (Wagar, Kansas City Star, 4/12).

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