1. (a) Any person who files a fraudulent claim for a grant under this Act, or who for compensation prepares a claim for a grant and knowingly enters false information on an application for any claimant under this Act, or who fraudulently files multiple applications, or who fraudulently states that a person without a disability is a person with a disability, or who, prior to July 1, 2012, fraudulently procures pharmaceutical assistance benefits, or who fraudulently uses such assistance to procure covered prescription drugs, or who, on behalf of an authorized pharmacy, files a fraudulent request for payment, is guilty of a Class 4 felony for the first offense and is guilty of a Class 3 felony for each subsequent offense.
2. (b)
3. (Blank) .

4. (c) The Department on Aging may recover from a claimant any amount paid to that claimant under this Act on account of an erroneous or fraudulent claim, together with 6% interest per year. Amounts recoverable from a claimant by the Department on Aging under this Act may, but need not, be recovered by offsetting the amount owed against any future grant payable to the person under this Act.

   The Department of Healthcare and Family Services may recover for acts prior to July 1, 2012 from an authorized pharmacy any amount paid to that pharmacy under the pharmaceutical assistance program on account of an erroneous or fraudulent request for payment under that program, together with 6% interest per year. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services may recover from a person who erroneously or fraudulently obtains benefits under the pharmaceutical assistance program the value of the benefits so obtained, together with 6% interest per year.

5. (d) A prosecution for a violation of this Section may be commenced at any time within 3 years of the commission of that violation.

(from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 409)

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)