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Arkansas Prepares To Launch Medicaid IG Office

As it moves forward with a plan to offer subsidized health insurance to thousands of low-income residents, Arkansas is preparing to reorganize its Medicaid program to create a new office aimed at investigating fraud and waste complaints.

Under a measure Gov. Mike Beebe signed into law last week, 33 staffers from the Department of Human Services will this summer begin working under an independent office that will investigate fraud, waste and abuse complaints in the state's Medicaid program.

They'll answer to the newly created inspector general who will be appointed by Beebe and confirmed by the state Senate. The measure was passed in conjunction with a proposal to use federal Medicaid dollars to purchase private insurance for thousands of low-income residents.

The law takes effect July 1.