June 28, 2007
Media Contact: Sandi Copes
Phone: (850) 245-0150
McCollum: Florida False Claims Act signed into law
TALLAHASSEE, FL – Attorney General Bill McCollum today expressed his appreciation to the Governor for signing the Florida False Claims Act, which will bring Florida into compliance with the Federal False Claims Act. The new law will also allow the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit to recover triple damages in civil lawsuits against those who commit Medicaid fraud.
"Our state’s Medicaid program exists to provide essential health care services to our citizens who are in critical need of those specific services. Anyone who attempts to exploit and defraud that program is depriving those Floridians in need,” said Attorney General McCollum. "This new law will provide us with the tools necessary to strengthen our investigation and prosecution of individuals who are cheating the system and will enable us to return vital Medicaid resources to the intended recipients."
“It is imperative that we preserve scarce resources for Florida's most vulnerable citizens, which is why AARP is supportive of the Attorney General's efforts to combat Medicaid fraud through this legislation,” said State Director Lori Parham, AARP Florida, at the passage of the bill by the Florida Legislature.