WICS Live: Around the States

Florida: Pfizer Settlement Money Will Fund New Medicaid Fraud Informant Program. The state plans to use $1 million of its share of the multi-state settlement with the drug maker to reward informants who provide original information on Medicaid fraud violations that leads to recovery, civil or criminal penalties, or forfeiture of property. Reward money can be as much as 25% of the amount recovered, up to $500,000. The law authorizing the program also required all Medicaid beneficiaries to receive information annually on the program and how to report Medicaid fraud. Pfizer has agreed to pay a record $2.3 billion for illegally marketing Bextra, an anti-inflammatory drug, of which Florida is to receive $58 million, over $10 million which will go to the Medicaid program.