Minnesota Takes Action to Stop Medicaid Fraud

Minnesota's Governor Walz has decided to bring in outside help to check up on Medicaid programs. This move comes after some people were caught trying to cheat the system. The state wants to make sure that the money meant for those who need it most is being used correctly. The state has picked a company called Optum to look into 14 programs that are at risk of being misused. These programs help people with things like autism services, mental health support, and housing. The goal is to catch any problems early and stop fraud before it gets worse. Governor Walz said in a statement that the state can't help people if the public doesn't trust the programs. He also warned that anyone trying to cheat the system will be caught and held responsible. The state is also doing more background checks and visits to make sure everything is on the up and up. Some of the programs being reviewed include services for autism, mental health, and housing support. The state has already taken steps to end one program called Housing Stabilization Services. Officials said that the reviews might cause some delays in payments, but they will still follow the rules and pay within 90 days. Republicans in Minnesota have been critical of the state's efforts to stop fraud. They said it's shocking that it took so long to identify these high-risk programs. They also called for a new office to help prevent misuse of state programs. Democratic leaders, on the other hand, think the audits are a good step. They said that fraud is getting more sophisticated, and the third-party audit will help the state fight it better.