Going After Fraud and Abuse in Medicaid

In 2006, only $970,000 was recovered in Medicaid Fraud and Abuse. That was unacceptable. So last year the Attorney General's office cracked down and recovered $17 million stolen from the Medicaid program, and this year we will recover millions more. That's a record for any Attorney General, and it is just the beginning. That's not a promise to do something about fraud and abuse, and it isn't a meaningless piece of legislation. That's $17 million for Kansas Medicaid program that otherwise would have gone to unscrupulous businesses and providers who under previous administrations saw the Kansas Medicaid program as an easy target.

Protecting Consumers

Just a few years ago a consumer division almost completely dismantled by political agendas was handling few cases and consumer fraud was unchecked. As Attorney General, Steve Six has focused on swift complaint resolution, making sure every complaint is addressed, and going after those that prey on consumers. There is a simple message - If you break the law so you can make the sale, it is you who will end up paying the price.

As a result, last year the consumer protection unit increased recoveries by over 800% from 2006 and this year we will recover more than ever before. The work doesn't just protect Kansas consumers, it protects honest Kansas businesses. For every crooked business that is scamming its customers, there are dozens of honest small business owners who just want to compete on a level playing field. Steve Six has made sure the consumer division is both pro-consumer and pro-business.

Going After Sex Predators and Child Pornographers

Child pornography is one of the most terrible crimes we deal with, and yet too many of these offenders believe they can hide in the shadows. That may have been true before, but under my watch we are shining a light on these criminals and bringing them to justice. Steve Six has investigators cracking down on criminals trading and viewing child porn. Every time a pornographic image is produced, distributed, or viewed the crime against that child is repeated. In addition, Steve Six has increased safety for all of our kids on the internet, by working to remove registered sex offenders from internet sites used by kids.

Identity Theft

Safety on the internet also extends to protecting identities. Steve Six introduced new tools like the Identity Theft repair kit to assist Kansans who have been victimized. In addition, Steve Six created investigations like Operation Imposter in Jackson County, and arrested those, including illegal immigrants, who were stealing Kansans' social security numbers. Kansans should know that on Steve Six's watch our full efforts are directed to investigating, arresting and prosecuting illegal immigrants who steal Kansans identities and violate the law.

Protecting Rural Communities

In June 2009, it was announced that St. Joseph Memorial Hospital, the only hospital in Larned and Pawnee County, would be closed by its parent company. Even when Hays Medical Center announced in August, 2009 that it would partner with a citizen committee to keep the hospital open, its fate was still in doubt due to the unwillingness of the parent company, Central Kansas Medical Center, to transfer the vital "critical access designation." Without this designation, the hospital would not have been able to serve Medicaid and Medicare eligible patients. The Attorney General's office filed a civil suit to stop the closure and after a successful mediation an agreement was reached that kept St. Joseph Memorial Hospital open as the new Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, maintained the critical access designation, and protected a valuable asset providing local, accessible health care not just in Larned but for the entire area.