GREEN SHEET REDIGEST
HB 459 2017 Regular Session Bacala
(KEYWORD, SUMMARY, AND DIGEST as amended by Senate committee
amendments)
MEDICAID: Creates and provides for a task force on coordination of Medicaid fraud
detection and prevention initiatives
DIGEST
Proposed law creates a seven-member task force on coordination of Medicaid fraud detection
and prevention initiatives (hereafter, the "task force") within the office of the legislative
auditor.
Proposed law authorizes appropriation by the legislature of monies in the Medical Assistance
Programs Fraud Detection Fund for activities of the task force.
Proposed law provides that the task force shall be composed of the following members:
(1)The governor or his designee.
(2)The attorney general or his designee.
(3)The legislative auditor or his designee.
(4)The inspector general or his designee.
(5)One member of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the House
of Representatives.
(6)One member of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate.
(7)The secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health or his designee.
Proposed law provides that the task force shall include the following nonvoting advisory
members, and provides that these advisory members shall cooperate with and assist in the
efforts of the task force upon request of the task force chairman:
(1)One advisory member appointed by the secretary of the La. Department of Health.
(2)One advisory member appointed by the secretary of the Department of Revenue.
(3)One advisory member appointed by the governor who represents the medical field.
(4)One advisory member appointed by the governor who represents the dental field.
Proposed law provides that at its first meeting, the task force shall select one eligible member
to serve as chairman. Provides that any member except a legislator shall be eligible to serve
as chairman of the task force.
Proposed law requires the task force to adopt rules of procedure and any other policies as
may be necessary to facilitate the work of the group. Authorizes the task force to form
subcommittees for examination of special topics and issues within the overall subject matter
of Medicaid fraud detection and prevention.
Proposed law provides that the purposes of the task force shall include the following:
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Prepared by Christine Arbo Peck. (1)To study and evaluate on an ongoing basis the laws, rules, policies, and processes by
which the state implements Medicaid fraud detection and prevention efforts.
(2)To identify and recommend opportunities for improving coordination of Medicaid
fraud detection and prevention initiatives across state agencies and branches of state
government.
(3)To identify any systemic or systemwide issues of concern within the Medicaid
program with respect to fraud, waste, and abuse.
(4)To develop recommendations for policies and procedures by which to facilitate and
implement all of the following:
(a)Random sampling of Medicaid cases to be selected for verification of
enrollee eligibility.
(b)Improvements in the Medicaid program integrity functions of the La.
Department of Health.
(c)Optimization of data mining among state-owned data sets for purposes of
Medicaid fraud detection and prevention.
(5)To make reports to the governor and to the legislature as provided in proposed law.
Proposed law provides that or before Jan. 1, 2018, and semiannually thereafter, the task force
shall prepare and submit to the governor and the legislature a report concerning the status of
Medicaid fraud detection and prevention initiatives and the status of efforts to coordinate
such initiatives across state agencies and branches of state government. Provides that the
report shall include information, analysis, and commentary related to each purpose of the task
force enumerated in proposed law, and may include any other information as the task force
deems necessary or appropriate.
Proposed law requires the legislative auditor to convene the task force on or before
Sept. 1, 2017.
Proposed law creating and providing for the task force terminates on Aug. 1, 2018.
(Amends R.S. 46:440.1(E)(2); Adds R.S. 46:440.4-440.8)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Health and Welfare to
the original bill:
1. Revise proposed law to create the task force within the office of the La.
legislative auditor rather than within the office of the La. attorney general.
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Add the following nonvoting advisory members to the task force created by
proposed law:
(a)One advisory member appointed by the governor who represents the
medical field.
(b)One advisory member appointed by the governor who represents the
dental field.
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Prepared by Christine Arbo Peck. Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Health and Welfare to the
reengrossed bill
1. Added the governor, inspector general, and secretary of the Louisiana Department
of Health, or their designees to the task force on coordination of Medicaid fraud.
2. Removed members appointed by the attorney general and legislative auditor who
have expertise in fraud protection and prevention from the task force on
coordination of Medicaid fraud.
3. Clarified that the legislative auditor shall ensure that the task force meets on or
before September 1, 2017.
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Prepared by Christine Arbo Peck.