Mass. Recovered $69M In Medicaid Fraud In FY2011

A record $69 million in Medicaid fraud was recovered in Massachusetts during fiscal year 2011, topping the previous record of $14 million collected in fiscal year 2009.

The state's Attorney General's Office says that was a return of $18 for every dollar the office spent pursuing fraud cases during the fiscal year that ended June 30. The office's Medicaid fraud division had a $3.81 million budget.

At least $36 million of the recovered funds came from national settlements with pharmaceutical manufacturers and various settlements with pharmacies the state said overcharging the Medicaid program for prescription drugs.

One settlement stemmed from a lawsuit filed in 2003 against 13 generic drug manufacturers.

More than $200 million in Medicaid fraud has been recovered since 2007.