14123.2. (Amended by Stats. 1997, Ch. 220, Sec. 37.)

Any provider or person that presents or causes to be presented a claim for services to an officer, employee, or agent of the state, or of any department or agency thereof as defined in appropriate state law, that the director determines is for a medical or other item or service that the person knows or has reason to know; (a) was not provided as claimed, or (b) payment for which may not be made under the program in the following instances: (1) when the person or provider has been suspended from participation in the program, or (2) when the department determines that the services or items claimed are substantially in excess of the needs of individuals or are of a quality that fails to meet professionally recognized standards of health care, or (3) when the department determines that a person has demonstrated a pattern of abusive overbilling of the program, or (4) when the department determines that a person has intentionally or negligently made a false statement or representation on any request for payment submitted to the Medi-Cal program; or (c) is submitted in violation of an agreement between the person and the state, shall be subject in addition to any other penalties that may be prescribed by law, to a civil money penalty of not more than three times the amount claimed for each item or service. For continuing intentional violations, a civil money penalty of not more than three times the amount claimed for each item or service may be imposed for each day the violation continues. The director shall make the determination to assess civil money penalties and shall be responsible for the collection of the penalty amounts. The provider or person subjected to a civil money penalty may appeal any decision by the director to assess the penalty pursuant to Section 100171 of the Health and Safety Code. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, all money collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the General Fund on a monthly basis.