SB515 Summary

• Amends definitions and language across the Medicaid Fraud Act and Medicaid Fraud False Claims Act to improve consistency between the two statutes and reflect current healthcare system operations.

• Reduces civil penalties under the False Claims Act to align with federal law, changing the penalty structure from three times to two times the overpayment amount.

• Enhances criminal sentences by one classification level when Medicaid fraud causes serious physical injury or death to a Medicaid recipient.

• Creates new provisions addressing kickbacks, unlawful remuneration, obstructing investigations, and unlawful Medicaid participation with specific criminal classifications.

• Clarifies record-keeping requirements, establishes a Medicaid Fraud Control Unit with statewide law enforcement authority, and expands definitions of "claim," "material," "overpayment," and "records" to encompass broader documentation types.