Senator Tim Knopp Aims to Reduce Medicaid Fraud

Introduces bill to utilize latest technology to combat fraud

Salem–Methodology to improve Medicaid payment integrity introduced. If passed, Senate Bill 753 could potentially save the State of Oregon millions of dollars each year with minimal costs to implement this element to the program according to Knopp. SB 753 extends the latest in technology fraud fighting to preventing fraud before it happens, by reducing both improper payments, cost, and time involved with traditional “pay and chase” recovery.

“With Medicaid fraud becoming increasingly more complex, it is critical that Oregon updates and improves its policies to remain vigilant,” Knopp said. “SB 753 adds the technologies necessary to assure the long term solvency of Medicaid by ensuring that these critical programs will be available for those that are truly in need of help.”

SB 753 is set to have its first hearing, Monday March 18^th at 3:00pm in the Senate Committee On Health Care and Human Services. Along with Senator Knopp, SB 753 has the bi-partisan support of Senate Health Care Committee Vice-Chair Jeff Kruse (R-Roseburg) and Doctor Alan Bates (D-Ashland).

“My goal is to enact strong preventive controls that can help defend against improper payments, increasing public confidence and avoiding the difficult “pay and chase” aspects of recovering improper payments,” Knopp continues. “Annually, the federal government estimates that state Medicaid programs forfeits around $18 billion dollars that is attributed to fraud, waste and abuse – taxpayer money that could be used for its intended purposes.”

Sen. Knopp was previously in the Legislature from 1999 to 2005 for three terms, including one as Oregon House Majority Leader, where he led the PERS Reforms of 2003 that saved taxpayers billions. He was appointed to the Education and Workforce Development and Health Care and Human Services committees for the 2013 Legislative Session. He was elected to his first term in the Oregon State Senate in November 2012. Senate District 27 encompasses the Central Oregon communities of Bend, Redmond, Sunriver, and Tumalo.