49.49(4m)(a)2. 2. Knowingly make or cause to be made any false statement or representation of a material fact for use in determining rights to a benefit or payment.
49.49(4m)(a)3. 3. Knowingly conceal or fail to disclose any event of which the person has knowledge that affects his or her initial or continued right to a benefit or payment or affects the initial or continued right to a benefit or payment of any other person in whose behalf he or she has applied for or is receiving a benefit or payment.
49.49(4m)(b) (b) A person who violates this subsection may be required to forfeit not less than $100 nor more than $15,000 for each statement, representation, concealment or failure.
49.49(5) (5)County collection. Any county may retain 15% of state medical assistance funds that are recovered due to the efforts of a county employee or officer or, if the county initiates action by the department of justice, due to the efforts of the department of justice under s. 49.495. This subsection applies only to recovery of medical assistance that was provided as a result of fraudulent activity by a recipient or by a provider.
49.49(6) (6)Recovery. In addition to other remedies available under this section, the court may award the department of justice the reasonable and necessary costs of investigation, an amount reasonably necessary to remedy the harmful effects of the violation and the reasonable and necessary expenses of prosecution, including attorney fees, from any person who violates this section. The department of justice shall deposit in the state treasury for deposit in the general fund all moneys that the court awards to the department or the state under this subsection. The costs of investigation and the expenses of prosecution, including attorney fees, shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.455 (1) (gh).
49.49 History History: 1977 c. 418; 1979 c. 89; 1981 c. 317; 1985 a. 29 s. 3202 (23); 1985 a. 269; 1989 a. 23, 31; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 283; 2001 a. 109; 2003 a. 309.
49.49 Annotation The only state of mind requirement for a violation of sub. (1) (a) 1. is the intentional making or causing the making of a false statement that appears in an application; that anyone actually received a medical assistance benefit need not be proved. State v. Williams, 179 Wis. 2d 80, 505 N.W.2d 468 (Ct. App. 1993).
49.49 Annotation Sub. (3m) and related rules require medical assistance providers to refund only the amount paid by the medical assistance program on behalf of retroactively eligible persons. A private pay patient subsequently found retroactively eligible does not have a federally protected right to reimbursement from a medical assistance provider for the amount originally paid by the patient in excess of the medical assistance reimbursement. Keup v. DHFS, 2004 WI 16, 269 Wis. 2d 59, 675 N.W.2d 755, 02-0456.
49.49 Annotation Nursing home guarantor agreements may violate sub. (4) after resident becomes certified Medicaid eligible. 76 Atty. Gen. 295.
49.493 49.493 Benefits under uninsured health plans.
49.493(1) (1) In this section:
49.493(1)(a) (a) "Department or contract provider" means the department, the county providing the medical benefits or assistance or a health maintenance organization that has contracted with the department to provide the medical benefits or assistance.
49.493(1)(b) (b) "Medical benefits or assistance" means medical benefits under s. 49.02 or 253.05 or medical assistance.
49.493(1)(c) (c) "Uninsured health plan" means a partially or wholly uninsured plan, including a plan that is subject to 29 USC 1001 to 1461, providing health care benefits.
49.493(2) (2) The providing of medical benefits or assistance constitutes an assignment to the department or contract provider, to the extent of the medical benefits or assistance provided, for benefits to which the recipient would be entitled under any uninsured health plan.
49.493(3) (3) An uninsured health plan may not do any of the following:
49.493(3)(a) (a) Exclude a person or a person's dependent from coverage under the uninsured health plan because the person or the dependent is eligible for medical assistance.
49.493(3)(b) (b) Terminate its coverage of a person or a person's dependent because the person or the dependent is eligible for medical assistance.
49.493(3)(c) (c) Provide different benefits of coverage to a person or the person's dependent because the person or the dependent is eligible for medical assistance than it provides to persons and their dependents who are not eligible for medical assistance.
49.493(3)(d) (d) Impose on the department or contract provider, as assignee of a person or a person's dependent who is covered under the uninsured health plan and who is eligible for medical benefits or assistance, requirements that are different from those imposed on any other agent or assignee of a person who is covered under the uninsured health plan.
49.493(4) (4) Benefits provided by an uninsured health plan shall be primary to medical benefits or assistance.
49.493 History History: 1991 a. 178, 214; 1993 a. 481; 1995 a. 27, 407; 1999 a. 32.
49.495 49.495 Jurisdiction of the department of justice. The department of justice or the district attorney may institute, manage, control and direct, in the proper county, any prosecution for violation of criminal laws affecting the medical assistance program including but not limited to laws relating to medical assistance contained in this subchapter and laws affecting the health, safety and welfare of recipients of medical assistance. For this purpose the department of justice shall have and exercise all powers conferred upon district attorneys in such cases. The department of justice or district attorney shall notify the medical examining board or the interested affiliated credentialing board of any such prosecution of a person holding a license granted by the board or affiliated credentialing board.
49.495 History History: 1977 c. 418; 1985 a. 340; 1993 a. 107; 1995 a. 27.
49.496 49.496 Recovery of correct medical assistance payments.
49.496(1)(1)Definitions. In this section:
49.496(1)(a) (a) "Disabled" has the meaning given in s. 49.468 (1) (a) 1.
49.496(1)(b) (b) "Home" means property in which a person has an ownership interest consisting of the person's dwelling and the land used and operated in connection with the dwelling.
49.496(1)(c) (c) "Nursing home" has the meaning given in s. 50.01 (3).