(a) The unit must be separate and distinct from the Medicaid agency.
(b) No official of the Medicaid agency will have authority to review the activities of the unit or to review or overrule the referral of a suspected criminal violation to an appropriate prosecuting authority.
(c) The unit will not receive funds paid under this part either from or through the Medicaid agency.
(d) The unit will enter into an agreement with the Medicaid agency under which the Medicaid agency will agree to comply with all requirements of Sec. 455.21(a)(2) of this title.
(e)(1) The unit may refer any provider with respect to which there is pending an investigation of a credible allegation of fraud under the Medicaid program to the State Medicaid agency for payment suspension in whole or part under Sec. 455.23 of this title.
(1) The unit may refer any provider with respect to which there is pending an investigation of a credible allegation of fraud under the Medicaid program to the State Medicaid agency for payment suspension in whole or part under Sec. 455.23 of this title.
(2) Referrals may be brief, but must be in writing and include sufficient information to allow the State Medicaid agency to identify the provider and to explain the credible allegations forming the grounds for the payment suspension.
(f) Any request by the unit to the State Medicaid agency to delay notification to the provider of a payment suspension under Sec. 455.23 of this title must be in writing.
(g) When the unit accepts or declines a case referred by the State Medicaid agency, the unit notifies the State Medicaid agency in writing of the acceptance or declination of the case. [57 FR 3355, Jan. 29, 1992, as amended at 76 FR 5970, Feb. 2, 2011]