Senate Bill No. 2347 Summary

• Creates civil liability for false or fraudulent Medicaid claims with penalties of $1,000 to $10,000 per act, plus three times actual damages and investigation costs; penalties capped at 15% of total claim if claim is under $100,000.

• Establishes a Medicaid Fraud Control Unit within the Attorney General's office with peace officer authority to investigate and prosecute fraud, patient abuse, and patient neglect related to Medicaid.

• Creates criminal penalties for Medicaid fraud ranging from Class A misdemeanor (under $1,000) to Class A felony (over $50,000), with mandatory suspension or permanent termination from Medicaid participation.

• Prohibits convicted Medicaid fraudsters from billing or collecting for services involved and requires repayment of all fraudulently obtained benefits to the Medicaid program.

• Grants the Attorney General authority to issue civil investigative demands and subpoenas before filing suit, with information kept confidential unless waived or court-ordered; provides statute of limitations of six years or three years from discovery (maximum ten years).