U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan says the nation needs software to prevent health care fraud.
The pitch by Hagan, a Greensboro Democrat, is probably going to make state Rep. Paul Stam mutter something about already telling us so.
Stam, an Apex Republican and House minority leader, filed a bill last session that would, you guessed it, require the state to implement software meant to catch Medicaid fraud.
Stam told reporters in March that $100 million worth of software could save $100 million in fraud every year. Stam's bill, which was co-sponsored by 10 House Republicans, stalled in the Democratic-controlled appropriations committee.
Stam's bill doesn't specifically mention SAS, which Hagan says has created suitable.
A quick check of campaign finance records shows that Stam has not received any contributions from SAS CEO Jim Goodnight or his wife, Ann Goodnight. Hagan received $4,000 from the pair in her campaign for her Senate seat, according to federal election records.
Update: Stam's proposal was included in the state budget.
