Federal billing crackdown fuels record discipline in Michigan

A record high number of license suspensions and revocations were imposed in Michigan in fiscal 2013, according to the state department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Bureau of Health Professions, and stepped-up federal prosecutions for health care fraud are at least part of the reason.

In the latest reporting period, the bureau chalked up 954 disciplinary actions against medical professionals, a 30 percent increase over the previous year’s 735 actions and a 65 percent increase over actions taken in 2004.

In 2009, the U.S. Department of Justice deployed the Detroit Medicare Fraud Strike force to begin prosecuting health care fraud cases. According to the bureau, it is notified when there is an indictment and is ready to take licensure action if there is a conviction.

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