§22-1-11. Making false statement or representation of material fact in claim or application for payments on medical benefits from Medicaid Agency generally; kickbacks, bribes, etc.; exceptions; multiple offenses.

(a) Any person who, with intent to defraud or deceive, makes, or causes to be made or assists in the preparation of any false statement, representation, or omission of a material fact in any claim or application for any payment, regardless of amount, from the Medicaid Agency, knowing the same to be false; or with intent to defraud or deceive, makes, or causes to be made, or assists in the preparation of any false statement, representation, or omission of a material fact in any claim or application for medical benefits from the Medicaid Agency, knowing the same to be false; shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or imprisoned for not less than one nor more than five years, or both. The offense set out herein shall not be complete until the claim or application is received by the Medicaid Agency or the contractor with the Medicaid Agency or its successor.

(b) Any person who solicits or receives any remuneration, including any kickback, bribe, or rebate, directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in cash or in kind:

(1) In return for referring an individual to a person for the furnishing or arranging for the furnishing of any item or service for which payment may be made in whole or in part by the Medicaid Agency or its agents, or

(2) In return for purchasing, leasing, ordering, or arranging for or recommending purchasing, leasing, or ordering any good, facility, service, or item for which payment may be made in whole or in part by the Medicaid Agency, or its agents shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or imprisoned for not less than one nor more than five years, or both.

(c) Any person who offers or pays any remuneration including any kickback, bribe, or rebate directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in cash or in kind to any person to induce a person to refer an individual to a person for the furnishing or arranging for the furnishing of any item or service for which payment may be made in whole or in part by the Medicaid Agency or its agents, or to purchase, lease, order, or arrange for or recommend purchasing, leasing, or ordering any good, facility, service, or item for which payment may be made in whole or in part by the Medicaid Agency, or its agents, shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or imprisoned for not less than one nor more than five years, or both.

(d) Subsections (b) and (c) of this section shall not apply to a discount or other reduction in price obtained by a provider of services or other entity under Medicaid if the reduction in price is properly disclosed and appropriately reflected in costs claimed or charges made by the provider or entity to the Medicaid Agency or its agents, or any amount paid by an employer to an employee who has a bona fide employment relationship with employer for employment in the provision of covered items or services.

(e) Any two or more offenses in violation of this section may be charged in the same indictment in separate counts for each offense and the offense shall be tried together, with separate sentences being imposed for each offense for which the defendant is found guilty.

(Acts 1980, No. 80-539, p. 837, §§1-5; Acts 1996, No. 96-529, p. 738, §1.)