41-4-8 - Falsification of diagnosis of Medicaid-eligible client for mental health benefits. - Mississippi Statutes

§ 41-4-8. Falsification of diagnosis of Medicaid-eligible client for mental health benefits.
 

(1)  A person shall not make, present or cause to be made or presented a material falsification of diagnosis of a Medicaid-eligible client for a claim for Medicaid mental health services benefits, knowing the diagnosis and claim to be false, fictitious or fraudulent. 

(2)  A person who violates this section shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, or by a fine of not more than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00), or both. 

(3)  For purposes of subsection (1), if a regional mental health/retardation center submits claims for Medicaid reimbursement or other funds from the Department of Mental Health, the lack of a certified physician or psychologist evaluation of the client for such claim as required under Section 41-4-7(c), Mississippi Code of 1972, shall be deemed a material falsification of diagnosis by the person responsible for making or presenting such claim. 
 

Sources: Laws,  1997, ch. 587, § 5, eff from and after July 1, 1997.