What crime is committed when a pharmacist submits Medicaid claims for reimbursement on brand name drugs instead of dispensed generic drugs?

When a pharmacist submits Medicaid claims for reimbursement on brand name drugs while actually dispensing generic drugs, this acts as an intentional deception to gain unauthorized benefits from a program. This constitutes fraud, which involves knowingly providing false information for financial gain. In this case, the pharmacist is misrepresenting the nature of the drugs dispensed to Medicaid, resulting in increased reimbursement costs to the program and potential losses for the healthcare system.

Fraud is characterized by the specific intent to deceive, and here, the pharmacist's actions are aimed at exploiting the difference in reimbursement rates between brand name and generic drugs. This behavior not only violates ethical standards but also breaches legal regulations surrounding proper billing practices in healthcare.