RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA (BNO NEWS) – North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue launched a series of measures to crack down on Medicaid fraud, waste, and abuse that cost taxpayers millions of dollars each year, the Office of the Governor announced on Wednesday.

The measures include stronger investigation and prosecution of potential abusers using new Medicaid SWAT teams, better use of technology to detect and prevent abuse, and a campaign to encourage the public and providers to report suspected abuse.

“In these tough times, when Medicaid enrollment is growing even as we face deep budget shortfalls, we must do more to root out waste and crack down on folks who are abusing or defrauding Medicaid,” Governor Perdue said.

A new software system will modernize the detection of potential Medicaid fraud by quickly analyzing thousands of claims and flagging suspicious cases. Such cases will go to the new Medicaid SWAT teams, specially trained investigators who will handle the investigation of consumers or providers identified as potential abusers.

Governor Perdue also called for improving the state’s anti-fraud laws and for doubling the staff size of the Attorney General’s Medicaid Investigations Unit and an aggressive awareness campaign to encourage individuals and providers to report Medicaid fraud, waste and abuse.

The Attorney General’s Medicaid Investigations Unit is composed of investigators, auditors, attorneys and State Bureau of Investigation agents who look into cases of fraud, abuse and neglect of residents in medical facilities that receive Medicaid funding.