Senator Dave Aronberg Calls On Attorney General McCollum To Halt Inadequate Federal Settlement In Multi-Million Dollar Healthcare Fraud Case
TALLAHASSEE - Alarmed by news reports that federal prosecutors may be willing to walk away from recovering for the state of Florida hundreds of millions of dollars involving an alleged Medicare and Medicaid fraud case, state Senator Dave Aronberg (D-Greenacres) on Wednesday called on the state’s top legal officer to halt the impending deal.
“As Florida’s top legal officer in charge of investigating and prosecuting Medicaid fraud, I am certain you are well aware of how much a collection like this would mean to our cash-starved state, particularly in light of the hundreds of millions of dollars we lose each year to health care fraud involving these programs,” wrote Sen. Aronberg to state Attorney General Bill McCollum. “A proactive move on your part would also send a strong and unmistakable message to those who would attempt to defraud taxpayers footing the bill for Medicare and Medicaid that such illegal and despicable actions will not only not be tolerated, but pursued to the full extent of the law.”
At issue is a recent article appearing in the Miami Herald outlining a reported deal struck between federal prosecutors and WellCare, a company alleged to have bilked taxpayers out of $400 million to $600 million via Medicaid and Medicare programs. Much of that money is suspected to have come from Florida-based operations.
According to the news reports, the agreement would allow WellCare to settle for $137.5 million, even though the state may be entitled to not only a full repayment, but treble damages.
“This letter is to call on you to immediately intervene in any settlement offer, and demand not only full repayment of all of the absconded funds, but a collection of any and all damages — including possible treble damages — to which the state of Florida is entitled,” wrote the Senator, a former Assistant Attorney General in the Economic Crimes Division and long-time watchdog on issues involving consumer fraud. “I urge your immediate intervention on behalf of taxpayers and legitimate Medicaid and Medicare patients throughout Florida. They shouldn’t have to suffer the financial consequences because of one company’s alleged greed and a federal reluctance to collect what Florida is fully owed.”
