Media Release

For: Immediate Release
Date: December 9, 2002
Contact: Bruce McIntyre 222-7890

Media Advisory
Health Department Presents Citation to RI Attorney General

On December 11, 2002, Patricia A. Nolan, MD, MPH, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health will present a Governor’s Citation to representatives of the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office. Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse, Mr. Bruce Todesco, Assistant Attorney General and Lynne Radiches, Special Assistant Attorney General and Deputy Chief will receive the citation.

The citation acknowledges the outstanding work and support for public health by the Medicaid Fraud and Patient Abuse Unit of the Attorney General’s Office.

"The Medicaid Fraud and Patient Abuse Control Unit plays an important role in protecting the public and providing safe and healthy communities", said Patricia A. Nolan, Director of Health. "The collaborative working relationship with HEALTH's regulatory boards substantially improves our effectiveness and helps to assure the quality of health care for all Rhode Islanders."

The Medicaid Fraud and Patient Abuse Unit (MFPAU) investigates and criminally prosecutes financial fraud by the providers of goods and services to the Rhode Island Medicaid Program, including home health care agencies, nursing homes, hospitals, doctors, pharmacies, and other health care services. The Unit also investigates and criminally prosecutes abuse, incompetence and neglect of patients in health care facilities and group homes. To accomplish its mission, the MFPAU employs a team of specially trained attorneys, patient abuse and fraud investigators, fraud auditors, and support staff. The MFPAU, pursuant to federal regulations, does not investigate alleged fraud by Medicaid recipients.

MFPAU works closely with the Boards of Medical Licensure and Discipline, Pharmacy and Nursing. Recently, MFPAU participated in two important cases involving Wallace Gonsalves, D.O. and the Michael Judge, D.O. Both of these cases lead to emergency suspensions of the licenses to practice medicine in RI.

The presentation will take place during a meeting of the RI Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline, which Dr. Nolan chairs. The meeting is scheduled for 8:30 am on December 11, 2002 in Conference Room 401 of the Department of Health Cannon Building.