Reduction of payments to providers.

If a provider seeks to collect from an individual (or any financially responsible relative or representative of that individual) an amount that exceeds an amount specified under § 447.20(a)— (a) The Medicaid agency may provide for a reduction of any payment amount otherwise due to the provider in addition to any other sanction available to the agency; and (b) The reduction may be equal to up to three times the amount that the provider sought to collect in violation of § 447.20(a). [55 FR 1433, Jan. 16, 1990]