Minnesota has created a state agency within its Medicaid program that deals with fraud and abuse issues.  The state agency must investigate suspected cases of fraud, assess utilization issues within the program, and protect the unauthorized disclosure of information.1  The law requires the Commissioner of Human Services to seek monetary recovery from a vendor if payment for a recipient of medical assistance was based on fraud, theft, abuse, or error, or from a recipient of medical assistance, if payment for a health care service was based on fraud, theft, abuse, or error.2  The state of Minnesota follows the federal law in its law against the submission of false Medicaid claims by Medicaid vendors, and entitles the state to sue the individual and request treble damages.3

        The state also has laws governing action to be taken against an individual who is wrongfully obtaining medical assistance benefits under Medicaid.  The local agency must refer the individual to a local fraud investigation unit, issue a notice reducing or terminating the individual’s medical assistance eligibility, and if the investigation shows the local agency that fraud has occurred, the agency must refer the individual to the county attorney.4