Today’s fraud involves a program called “Integrated Community Supports” (ICS). For the record, is it,
- A Medicaid program? Check
- A “waivered” Medicaid program? Check
- Run by the state Dept. of Human Service (DHS) ? Check
Do you really need to hear anything else? So, what is ICS? From DHS,
Services that provide support and training/habilitation in community living service categories to adults age 18 and older who reside in a living unit of a provider-controlled ICS setting (e.g., apartment in a multi-family housing building). ICS can be delivered up to 24 hours per day in the person’s living unit or in the community.
The only words that matter in the above sentence are “support” “services” and “up to 24 hours per day.” The potential for fraud is obvious.
The details from the Minnesota Star Tribune,
Minnesota officials have suspended payments to providers of another Medicaid-funded program, citing “credible allegations of fraud” as they attempt to crack down on schemes to swindle state and federal funds.
The scoreboard, as announced by Shireen Gandhi, temporary DHS commissioner,
DHS has suspended payments to 11 ICS providers, Gandhi said in a letter to lawmakers on Friday, and 17 affiliated providers in different Medicaid-funded programs.
Gandhi is quoted,
There’s no place in our system for providers who are taking money and not assisting clients.
No, apparently, there is infinite room for fraudsters, and many $billions available to feed them.
Another day, another fraud.
