Illinois to start Medicaid fraud checks without federal approval

SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Pat Quinn's administration will start combing records for Medicaid fraud despite not having the federal government's approval.

The Healthcare and Family Services Department told aides to President Barack Obama this week that the state has waited a year for the go-ahead and will not wait anymore.

Director Julie Hamos told the Chicago Tribune that officials will begin checking addresses of Medicaid recipients against driver's license records to ensure they live in Illinois. Another plan to check income eligibility is forthcoming.

Federal officials worry the plan is at odds with Obama's health care access law which forbids states from making it harder to get Medicaid coverage for the poor. They're reviewing Illinois' plans.