DHH Hires Former Federal Special Agent as Chief Compliance Officer

Former federal Medicare Fraud Strike Force leader to oversee internal and external healthcare program audits

Wednesday, May 15, 2013  |  Contact: Olivia Watkins; (225) 342-1463 or (225) 610-8660 (cell)

Baton Rouge, La. - The Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) announced the hiring of a new Inspector General and Chief Compliance Officer to lead internal and external audit efforts today. William W. (Bill) Root, the former Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Investigations at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will conduct internal audits, implement plans to meet the requirements of the Legislative auditor and oversee DHH's Program Integrity Office, which assures expenditures for Medicaid services are appropriate, and identifies fraud and abuse in the system.

Root, a Baton Rouge native, began his career as an investigator for the Louisiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, in which he worked with DHH to investigate several fraudulent schemes. For the last 26 years, Root served as a special agent for the federal government investigating transportation companies, physicians, hospitals, and various inpatient and outpatient healthcare providers.

"I am extremely pleased to be able to announce the hiring of Bill Root as our Chief Compliance Officer and Inspector General," DHH Interim Secretary Kathy Kliebert said. "Bill brings more than 30 years of fraud investigation experience to the Department to not only identify and help prevent fraud in the Medicaid system, but also to oversee internal audits of DHH's practices. Ultimately, the more efficient and honest the entire healthcare system is, the more state and federal dollars will go to the care of those Louisiana citizens who need it most."

Root will directly oversee DHH's Program Integrity section, which is responsible for identifying fraud in the Medicaid system. Program Integrity investigates complaints, performs forensic claims investigations, reviews provider eligibility, as well as enrollment and disenrollment of providers, measures payment error rates, reviews claims processing and medical reviews. 

"The Medicaid program is funded by our tax dollars to assist the most vulnerable citizens, including thousands of Louisiana children," said Root. "I am excited about the opportunity to continue to fight against fraud, waste and abuse in the Medicaid program and within the Department. Ensuring the integrity of our programs is an essential component of our mission."

In 2011, Root's Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) strike team was recognized for claiming 31 indictments of 29 Baton Rouge-area defendants worth more than $35 million in just a few short months. In the latter part of 2011 through June 2012, Root's division of HEAT resulted in indictments regarding fraudulent Medicare schemes worth nearly $250 million.

"While we prioritize identifying and stopping Medicaid fraud, Bill Root will also oversee audits and special investigations within the Department as well," Sec. Kliebert noted. "We must not only hold the physicians and hospitals we work with accountable, but we must be able to assure the public that we as an agency are held accountable. Credibility is essential as a part of our relationship with the federal government, providers and, most importantly, the public. Root will assist the Department in addressing and helping to prevent any internal fraud issues."

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals strives to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all state citizens. To learn more about DHH, visit http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov. For up-to-date health information, news and emergency updates, follow DHH's blog, Twitter account and Facebook.

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