Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 20 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE (§§ 20-2-101 — 20-86-113) › Subtitle 5 - SOCIAL SERVICES (§§ 20-76-101 — 20-86-113) › Chapter 77 - MEDICAL ASSISTANCE (§§ 20-77-101 — 20-77-2811) › Subchapter 9 - MEDICAID FRAUD FALSE CLAIMS ACT (§§ 20-77-901 — 20-77-912) › Section 20-77-902 - Liability for certain acts

A person shall be liable to the State of Arkansas, through the Attorney General, for restitution, damages, and a civil penalty for an act or omission in violation of this subchapter if he or she:
(1)
Knowingly makes or causes to be made any false statement or representation of a material fact in any claim, request for payment, or application for any benefit or payment under the Arkansas Medicaid Program;
(2)
Knowingly makes or causes to be made any omission or false statement or representation of a material fact for use in determining rights to a benefit or payment under the Arkansas Medicaid Program;
(3)
Having knowledge of the occurrence of any event affecting his or her initial or continued right to any benefit or payment or the initial or continued right to any benefit or payment of any other individual in whose behalf he or she has applied for or is receiving a benefit or payment, knowingly conceals or fails to disclose that event with an intent fraudulently to secure the benefit or payment either in a greater amount or quantity than is due or when no benefit or payment is authorized;
(4)
Having made or submitted a claim, request for payment, or application to receive any benefit or payment for the use and benefit of another person and having received it, knowingly converts the benefit or payment or any part of the benefit or payment to a use other than for the use and benefit of the other person;
(5)
Knowingly presents or causes to be presented a claim for a physician's service for which payment may be made under the program and knows that the individual who furnished the service was not licensed as a physician;
(6)
Knowingly solicits or receives any remuneration, including any kickback, bribe, or rebate, directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in cash or in kind:
(A)
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 under the program; or
(B)
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 under the program;
(7)
(A)
Knowingly 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 the person to:
(i)
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 under the program; or
(ii)
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 under the program.
(B)
If the transaction is otherwise legal and properly documented as occurring in the normal course of business, subdivision (7)(A) of this section does not apply to:
(i)
A discount or other reduction in price obtained by a provider of services or other entity under the program if the reduction in price is properly disclosed and appropriately reflected in the costs claimed or charges made by the provider or entity under the program;
(ii)
Any amount paid by an employer to an employee who has a bona fide employment relationship with the employer for employment in the providing of covered items or services;
(iii)
Any salary, wages, or commission paid during the normal course of business by a vendor of goods or services to a person authorized to act as a purchasing agent for a group of individuals or entities that are furnishing services reimbursed under the program, if:
(a)
The person has a written contract with each individual or entity that specifies the amount to be paid to the person, which amount may be a fixed amount or a fixed percentage of the value of the purchases made by each individual or entity under the contract; and
(b)
In the case of an entity that is a Medicaid provider as defined in §
20-77-901
, the person discloses, in the form and manner as the Secretary of the Department of Human Services requires, to the entity and upon request to the secretary the amount received from each vendor with respect to purchases made by or on behalf of the entity; or
(iv)
Any other payment practice specified by the secretary promulgated pursuant to applicable federal or state law;
(8)
Knowingly makes or causes to be made or induces or seeks to induce any omission or false statement or representation of a material fact with respect to the conditions or operation of any institution, facility, or Medicaid provider in order that the institution, facility, or Medicaid provider may qualify to obtain or maintain any licensure or certification when the licensure or certification is required to be enrolled or eligible to deliver any healthcare goods or services to Medicaid recipients by state law, federal law, or the rules of the program;
(9)
Knowingly:
(A)
Charges for any service provided to a patient under the program money or other consideration at a rate in excess of the rates established by the state; or
(B)
Charges, solicits, accepts, or receives, in addition to any amount otherwise required to be paid under the program, any gift, money, donation, or other consideration other than a charitable, religious, or philanthropic contribution from an organization or from a person unrelated to the patient:
(i)
As a precondition of admitting a patient to a hospital, nursing facility, or intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities; or
(ii)
As a requirement for the patient's continued stay in the hospital, nursing facility, or intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities when the cost of the services provided therein to the patient is paid for in whole or in part under the program;
(10)
Knowingly makes or causes to be made any omission or false statement or representation of a material fact in any application for benefits or for payment in violation of the rules, regulations, and provider agreements issued by the program or its fiscal agents;
(11)
Knowingly:
(A)
Participates, directly or indirectly, in the Arkansas Medicaid Program after having pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to or been found guilty of a charge of Medicaid fraud, theft of public benefits, or abuse of adults as defined in the Arkansas Criminal Code, §
5-1-101
et seq.; or
(B)
As a certified health provider enrolled in the program pursuant to Title XIX of the Social Security Act or as the fiscal agent of such a provider who employs, engages as an independent contractor, engages as a consultant, or otherwise permits the participation in the business activities of such a provider, any person who has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to or has been found guilty of a charge of Medicaid fraud, theft of public benefits, or abuse of adults as defined in the Arkansas Criminal Code, §
5-1-101
et seq.;
(12)
Knowingly submits any false documentation supporting a claim or prior payment to the Office of Medicaid Inspector General or the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit within the office of the Attorney General during an audit or in response to a request for information or a subpoena;
(13)
Knowingly makes or causes to be made, or induces or seeks to induce, any material false statement to the Office of Medicaid Inspector General or the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit within the office of the Attorney General during an audit or in response to a request for information or a subpoena;
(14)
Knowingly forges the signature of a doctor or nurse on a prescription or referral for healthcare goods or services or submits a forged prescription or referral for healthcare goods or services in support of a claim for payment under the program;
(15)
Knowingly places a false entry in a medical chart or medical record that indicates that healthcare goods or services have been provided to a Medicaid recipient knowing that the healthcare goods or services were not provided;
(16)
Knowingly presents, or causes to be presented, a false or fraudulent claim for payment or approval to the program;
(17)
Knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used a false record or statement that is material to a false or fraudulent claim to the program;
(18)
Knowingly:
(A)
Makes, uses, or causes to be made or used a false record or statement that is material to an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the program; or
(B)
Conceals or improperly avoids or decreases an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the program;
(19)
Conspires to commit a violation of this section; or
(20)
Knowingly presents or causes to be presented a claim for a service required to be provided by a person with a particular type of license or credential while knowing that the individual who furnished the service was not licensed or credentialed.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 916,§ 11, eff. 7/24/2019.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 5228, eff. 7/1/2019.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 5227, eff. 7/1/2019.
Amended by Act 2017, No. 978,§ 9, eff. 8/1/2017.
Acts 1993, No. 1299, § 2; 2003, No. 1163, § 1.