Text of section effective on April 01, 2025
Sec. 544.0202.  DUTIES RELATED TO FRAUD PREVENTION.  (a)  The office of inspector general shall compile and disseminate accurate information and statistics relating to:
(1)  fraud prevention; and
(2)  post-fraud referrals received and accepted or rejected from the commission's or a health and human services agency's case management system.
(b)  The commission shall:
(1)  aggressively publicize successful fraud prosecutions and fraud-prevention programs through all available means, including the use of statewide press releases; and
(2)  ensure that the commission or a health and human services agency maintains and promotes a toll-free telephone hotline for reporting suspected fraud in programs the commission or a health and human services agency administers.
(c)  The commission shall develop a cost-effective method to identify applicants for public assistance in counties bordering other states and in metropolitan areas the commission selects who are already receiving benefits in other states.  If economically feasible, the commission may develop a computerized matching system.
(d)  The commission shall:
(1)  verify automobile information that is used as eligibility criteria; and
(2)  establish with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice a computerized matching system to prevent an incarcerated individual from illegally receiving public assistance benefits the commission administers.
(e)  Not later than October 1 of each year, the commission shall submit to the governor and Legislative Budget Board a report on the results of computerized matching of commission information with information from neighboring states, if any, and information from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.  The commission may consolidate the report with any other report relating to the same subject matter the commission is required to submit under other law.
(f)  The commission and each health and human services agency that administers part of Medicaid shall maintain statistics on the number, type, and disposition of fraudulent benefits claims submitted under the part of the program the agency administers.
Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 769 (H.B. 4611), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2025.