West Virginia § 9-7-5 - 9-7-5. Bribery; false claims; conspiracy; criminal penalties; failure to maintain records.

§ 9-7-5. 9-7-5. Bribery; false claims; conspiracy; criminal penalties; failure to maintain records.

(a) A person shall not solicit, offer, pay, or receive any unlawful remuneration, including any kickback, rebate or bribe, directly or indirectly, with the intent of causing an expenditure of moneys from the medical services fund established pursuant to §9-4-2 of this code, which is not authorized by applicable laws or rules and regulations.

(b) A person shall not make or present or cause to be made or presented to the department a claim under the medical programs of the department knowing the claim to be false, fraudulent, or fictitious.

(c) A person shall not enter into an agreement, combination or conspiracy to obtain or aid another to obtain the payment or allowance of a false, fraudulent, or fictitious claim under the medical programs of the department.

(d) Any person found to be in violation of §9-7-5(a), §9-7-5(b) or §9-7-5(c) of this code is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned in a state correctional facility not less than one nor more than 10 years or shall be fined not to exceed $10,000, or both fined and imprisoned.

(e) Any provider who, having submitted a claim for or received a benefit, payment, or allowance under the medical programs of the department, knowingly fails to maintain such records as are necessary to disclose fully the nature of a good or service for which a claim was submitted or benefit, payment, or allowance was received, or such records as are necessary to disclose fully all income and expenditures upon which rate of payment were based, for a period of at least five years following the date on which payment was received, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, may be imprisoned in a state correctional facility not to exceed one year or may be fined up to $1,000, or both fined and imprisoned. Any person who knowingly destroys such records within five years from the date the benefit, payment, or allowance was received, shall be guilty of a felony, and may be imprisoned in a state correctional facility not less than one nor more than 10 years or may be fined not to exceed $10,000, or both fined and imprisoned.