Rep. Dixon Talks Medicaid Fraud

Rep. Bob Dixon (#140th district) said passing legislation that would allow patients to report fraudulent activity by their doctors and spur lawsuits would undo medical malpractice reform previously passed by lawmakers.

He is referring to Senate bill 1210. The bill was at the heart of the discussion at the Greene County Medical Society Legislative Candidate Forum Tuesday night.

The bill would allow individuals to sue physicians for Medicaid fraud, and collect a portion of the damages. The medical community is strongly opposed to the legislation. The bill died at the end of the legislative session last year. But physicians expect it to resurface this session as the debate over Medicaid fraud ramps up again. The Greene County Medical Society is aggressively lobbying candidates to oppose any type of similar legislation.

"It's the tort reform repeal act," Dixon said. "That's why we blocked it in the House and will continue to."

"If you introduce a private case of action, it'll create such a barrier," said Greene County Medical Society President John Mihalevich. "No physician will be able to see a patient if they have this burden."

"To create a whistleblower act that would turn patients against us . . . would be such a heavy burden on physicians, and may prompt some not to participate in the Medicaid program," said Dr. David Redfern.

Basically, every other candidate in attendance marched to the podium to oppose this legislation.

Dixon's opponent, Democrat Tonya Cunningham talked about the Medicaid program in general and called the cuts "cruel and senseless." "It had nothing to do with fraud, the way it was implemented," Cunningham said.

She suggested looking for fraud in other areas besides the direct provider, such as transportation services. "This administration chose to do nothing about that," Cunningham said.

Dixon said his greatest disappointment out of the last legislative session was failing to restore the ticket-to-work program or MAWD. "I was an early advocate for that, all out on my own," Dixon said.

But he noted that the reason it didn't pass was because the state Senate had tied it to Senate bill 1210. "Many people pointed the finger at the Governor's office but it was really a Senator who was a trial attorney [who was responsible]," Dixon said.

Dixon also touted legislation sponsored by Nixa Rep. Jay Wasson that allowed small businesses to pool resources to receive a better price on health insurance. "It was a pilot program here in Springfield, and the average decrease in premiums was 18%," Dixon said.

Still, he said his "greatest apprehension" is the continued overwhelming growth in Medicaid, a subject which will surely be a big topic again during the 2007 legislative session.

"We still have to address Medicaid reform," Dixon said.