Sen. Kahn: inspector general of health services overdue
Friday, February 19, 2010
LANSING — After Gov. Jennifer Granholm issued an Executive Order creating an Office of Health Services Inspector General to help combat fraud, waste and abuse in health services programs, Sen. Roger Kahn, R-Saginaw Township, offered the following statement:
“I am glad the governor followed my lead and took action on this important matter. This new office will help stop fraud, waste and abuse, potentially saving Michigan taxpayers millions of dollars.
“Last year I introduced Senate Bill 942 which would have created the Michigan Office of Medicaid Inspector General to prevent fraud. This new inspector general will help ensure that the state spends every dollar wisely and effectively.”
Kahn worked closely with Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, a leading fighter against Medicaid fraud. Cox’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit has recovered a record $143 million since he took office, more than seven times the amount collected by Michigan’s previous two attorneys general.
When Kahn introduced SB 942 an estimated 10 percent of Michigan’s $10 billion Medicaid budget was tainted by fraud, waste or abuse. More than 22 percent of Michigan’s state General Fund revenues are spent on Medicaid.
According to the nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency, the state’s exploding Medicaid budget has grown 88 percent since 1999.
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