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(c) Claims for current and past due child support shall take priority over claims made under this section.

ARTICLE 3 - FALSE MEDICAID CLAIMS

42-4-301. Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Wyoming Medicaid False Claims Act."

42-4-302. Definitions.

(a) As used in this act:

(i) "Claim" means any request or demand under the Medicaid program, whether under a contract or otherwise, for money, property or services that:

(A) Is presented to an officer, employee or agent of the state or a political subdivision of the state; or

(B) Is made to a contractor, grantee or other recipient, if the money or property is to be spent or used on the state's behalf or to advance a state program or interest, and if the state provides or has provided any portion of the money or property requested or demanded.

(ii) "Material statement" means a statement that affects the payment or receipt of money or property;

(iii) "This act" means W.S. 42-4-301 through 42-4-306.

42-4-303. Acts subjecting person to treble damages; costs and civil penalties; exceptions.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, any person who commits any of the following acts in relation to the Wyoming Medicaid program shall be liable to the state for three (3) times the amount of damages which the state sustains because of the act of that person. A person who commits any of the following acts shall also be liable to the state for the costs of a civil action brought to recover any penalties or damages provided in this subsection, and shall be liable to the state for a civil penalty of not less than one thousand dollars