This bill aims to enhance consumer protection by strengthening the legal framework against Medicaid fraud. It grants the attorney general and authorized assistant attorneys general the power to issue subpoenas for records from various entities, such as telephone companies and financial institutions, during Medicaid fraud investigations. A new section, 609.467, is introduced to define medical assistance fraud and establish criminal penalties, including imprisonment and fines, based on the severity of the offense. The bill also repeals section 609.466, which previously defined medical assistance fraud, and makes conforming changes to several existing statutes to clarify the prosecution process.

Additionally, the bill amends the statute of limitations for various offenses, setting a five-year filing period for serious offenses involving property or services valued over $35,000, while establishing a general three-year period for other offenses, with exceptions for cases involving DNA evidence. It includes an appropriation of $390,750 for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to support the attorney general's efforts in combating medical assistance fraud, with a commitment to maintain the same funding level for the subsequent two fiscal years. The effective date for the new provisions is set for August 1, 2025, applying to crimes committed on or after that date.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 609.466, 8.16, 256B.12, 628.26
1st Engrossment: 609.466, 8.16, 256B.12, 609.52, 628.26