The powerful House Government Oversight Committee recently released a report on how the state could limit Medicaid provider fraud, a document which the committee’s leading member says can start the conversation on how to cut unnecessary costs and better manage state resources. 

The report outlines a few tools the state could use to limit instances of provider fraud and improper payments, including a state False Claims Act and use of the federal government’s Do Not Pay Program, which helps national, state and local agencies prevent fraud and improper payments using data analytics.

Despite being briefly waylaid by a persistent set of church bells near the office, Andrew and Justin proceed to look at some of the recent retirements in the General Assembly. With the help of the 2020 Election Magic 8 Ball (TM) they look at what it all means for elections next year. Like what you hear? Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts.

The Department of Environmental Protection released its first round of statewide tests for PFAS Thursday, with only one location of the 96 sampled having elevated levels above federal guidelines.

The Wolf Administration announced in September of 2018 that it would begin statewide PFAS testing at high risk locations. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl contaminants, can originate in manufacturing or wastewater treatment facilities. The chemicals can cause cancer and other health problems in high concentrations.

After being elected to the Pennsylvania state House just nine months ago, Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrell (D-Philadelphia) was arrested Wednesday after an investigation determined that she had stolen over $500,000 from her own nonprofit for personal uses, according to Attorney General Josh Shapiro.

 

Johnson-Harrell, who has announced she will resign, was charged with theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, perjury, tampering with public records and reporting by candidate and political committees. Shapiro said Johnson-Harrell turned herself in Wednesday morning and will plead guilty to the charges. 

Auditor General Eugene DePasquale announced Wednesday he would be undertaking a review of state lottery policies in an effort to ensure that frequent winners who have defrauded other states for tens of millions of dollars are not liable to strike again in Pennsylvania.

Investigations in other states have found some lottery participants win repeatedly, including at stores they or their friends own, to a degree that is statistically improbable. Some of these have included criminal schemes in an effort to help lottery winners circumvent tax laws, although other winners merely claim that their good fortune is due to the frequent purchasing of tickets.