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The Ohio Department of Medicaid Amends Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Rules

Client Alert

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Ohio Administrative Code rule 5160-1-29 Medicaid fraud, waste, and abuse provides definitions and examples of fraud, waste, and abuse and describes the Ohio Department of Medicaid's (ODM) program to detect, prevent, and address these issues. OAC 5160-1-29 has been reviewed as part of the five-year rule review process and has been amended to update definitions, language, and citations; add clarifying language; and remove regulatory restrictions in accordance with Ohio Revised Code section 121.95.

As part of its five-year review, ODM has reorganized and clarified the definitions of "Fraud" and "Waste and Abuse":

  • "Fraud" now explicitly refers to the definition in 42 C.F.R. 455.2
  • "Waste and abuse" is now split into two separate definitions:
    • "Waste" is any preventable act leading to unnecessary Medicaid expenditures.
    • "Abuse" is now defined as in 42 C.F.R. 455.2

ODM also adds specificity and clarity to the list of examples, including:

  • Misrepresentation of services, billing for services not provided, and violation of provider agreements.
  • New examples include misrepresenting information on provider applications, ordering excessive quantities of supplies, and non-compliance with service definitions.
    • Provider Fraud – “Non-compliance with the service definitions, activities, coverage, and limitations as listed in the applicable provisions in agency 5160 of the Administrative Code.”
    • Recipient Fraud – “Any action to falsely obtain Medicaid eligibility as described in section 2913.401 of the Revised Code.”

Please contact BMD healthcare attorney Daphne Kackloudis at dlkackloudis@bmdllc.com with questions.


Department of Education Proposes Redefinition of “Professional Degree,” Excluding Nursing and Limiting Graduate Loan Borrowing

The U.S. Department of Education has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would redefine “professional degree” programs under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The proposal excludes nursing from the recognized list and would impose new borrowing limits for graduate students while eliminating the Grad PLUS program. Public comments are due by March 2, 2026.

First-of-Its-Kind Federal Ruling Finds Use of Consumer AI Tool May Destroy Attorney-Client Privilege

On February 10, 2026, Judge Jed Rakoff of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York issued a first-of-its-kind ruling finding that documents generated by a criminal defendant using a consumer AI platform were not protected by attorney-client privilege after being shared with counsel. The court treated the AI tool as a third party, concluding that entering sensitive information into a publicly available platform may waive confidentiality. The ruling also suggests that the work product doctrine may not apply where AI-generated materials are created independently by a client rather than at counsel’s direction. The decision signals that parties should exercise caution when using consumer AI tools in connection with legal matters.

Your Golden Chance for H-1B Lottery Registration - March 2026

USCIS H-1B registration opens March 4–19, 2026. U.S.-based employees on valid nonimmigrant status are exempt from the $100,000 fee for change of status petitions. The new weighted lottery favors higher-skilled and higher-paid employees, improving odds for advanced degree holders and Wage Level 3 or 4 workers.

Invisible Algorithms: The Hidden Role of Artificial Intelligence in USCIS Immigration Processing

The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed that artificial intelligence and machine learning tools are now integrated into numerous operational functions within U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). These tools are described as mechanisms to improve efficiency, reduce backlogs, and assist officers in managing an unprecedented volume of applications. DHS emphasizes that human adjudicators retain decision-making authority and that AI systems do not independently grant or deny immigration benefits. Find out how AI affects the U.S. immigration process.

OAAPN | Year In Review: 2026 Ohio Board of Nursing and Ohio Law Rules

Find out key changes to Ohio law and the Ohio Board of Nursing rules that have directly impacted APRN practice over the past year, including Psychiatric Inpatient Documents, Intimate Examinations, Signature Authority, Duties Related to Fetal Death, Retail IV Therapy Clinics, Release from Permanent Restrictions, Disciplinary Action, Course on Drugs and Prescriptive Authority, Overdose Reversal Drugs, Office Based Opioid Treatment, Withdrawal Management for Substance Use Disorder, Safe Haven Program, and more.