Medicaid fraud is the process of billing for medical services not performed, charging different rates for services typically offered in a package deal, unnecessary referrals to other practices, and running unnecessary tests. If suspected, the Florida Medicaid Fraud Unit investigates the fraud before passing their results over to a prosecutor for a formal review. The sentence is determined by the amount of money obtained in the fraud but every first offense is a felony.
Statute 409.920
Medicaid provider fraud penalties are:
$10,000 or less – felony of the third degree
$10,000 or more, but less than $50,000 – felony of the second degree
$50,000 or more – felony of the first degree