May 10th, 2017 by WCBC Radio
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey joined a 38-state coalition urging the federal government to support a strategy aimed at better protecting Medicaid recipients from abuse and neglect.
The broad, bipartisan group of state attorneys general contend expanded use of Medicaid Fraud Control Unit funding would allow for increased detection, investigation and prosecution of abuse and neglect claims against Medicaid beneficiaries. They specifically targeted occurrences within non-institutional settings in their letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price.
“Reducing Medicaid fraud and ensuring access to quality medical care matters,” Attorney General Morrisey said. “Federal statistics suggest 1 in 10 persons, age 65 or older, who live at home will become a victim of abuse. This cannot be tolerated. Our office aims to protect vulnerable residents of our state with support from fellow attorneys general.”
Expanded use of federal funds would fill a void in protection for patients receiving care at home or another non-institutional setting.
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