Senate Medicaid committee looks into fraud

Senate President Pro Tem Michael R. Gibbons, R-Kirkwood, Dec. 21 created the Senate Special Committee to Investigate Medicaid Fraud. Members will investigate the issue of Medicaid fraud by private contractors within the Medicaid system, who may have overbilled patients by hundreds of millions of dollars.

“Stealing money from their care is a disgusting crime, particularly when the theft is by the providers we trust to care for Missourians most in need,” Gibbons said in a news release.

The committee will investigate fraud within the Medicaid system and pass information to the appropriate prosecuting authorities. Members also will work to draft legislation to prevent crimes against Medicaid patients and the state’s health care system.

The committee comprises Sen. Chris Koster, R-Harrisonville; Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau; Sen. Rob Mayer, R-Dexter; Senate Minority Floor Leader Maida Coleman, D-St. Louis; and Sen. Yvonne Wilson, D-Kansas City.

Koster will chair the committee, Gibbons said in the release, because of Koster’s past experience of successfully prosecuting claims of Medicaid provider fraud as the Cass County prosecuting attorney.

The committee is expected to begin hearings as early as the third week of January.