November 30, 2006
Amerigroup, a managed care provider, is seeking to reduce the damages awarded by a jury last month. The jury had found that Amerigroup discriminated against pregnant women in order to avoid paying for costly care, thereby defrauding the Illinois Medicaid program.
The jury awarded damages amounting to $48 million, which would be automatically tripled under the federal False Claims Act and the Illinois Whistleblower Reward and Protection Act.
The Virginia Pilot of November 29, 2006 reported on these developments.