Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz issued another warning about Medicaid fraud on Thursday with a letter to governors demanding that they revalidate providers or face potential federal scrutiny.
“Corrupt individuals and organizations masquerading as health care providers are defrauding Medicaid, and American taxpayers, of billions of dollars each year, placing valuable resources out of reach for those the program was intended to serve: low-income senior citizens, children, and disabled individuals,” said Administrator Oz.
“It is urgent that action be taken immediately to address the rapid increase in fraud, waste, and abuse, and corruption in Medicaid and to bar fraudulent actors from further abusing the program,” he added.
Fox News obtained a copy of the letter on Thursday and specified that it was sent to the governors of all 50 states.
In the letter, Oz demands that governors fulfill their state’s obligations to maintain their state Medicaid program’s integrity.
He demanded that they revalidate providers at high risk of fraud, which would require Medicaid recipients to resubmit documentation supporting their eligibility to bill the program or face a loss of funding.
“A revalidation process for high-risk providers will immediately deter criminal actors from continuing their fraud schemes as the federal and state governments closely review and scrutinize the qualifications of providers,” he said.
Dr. Oz will give states 10 days to respond to his letter, and failure to do so will be considered in a federal evaluation into the likelihood of fraud in each state.
Oz also sent a letter to state-level Medicaid directors, demanding that they submit a two-year comprehensive provider revalidation strategy to include a plan to ensure accuracy of provider enrollment data.
That letter ordered that the plan be submitted within 30 days, though it is unclear whether failure to do so will result in any serious consequences for states that refuse.
This is not the first time Oz has issued an ultimatum related to Medicaid fraud. He previously gave Maine a 30-day deadline to address fraud related to MaineCare autism billing.
Despite Oz’s repeated anti-fraud statements, deadlines, and demands, fraudulent MaineCare recipients continue to draw millions from the taxpayer-funded program with little oversight.
YES! Good on the all powerful OZ! Although I can guarantee that fraud in military contracts always has and always will be a much bigger problem, but instead we will continue to whittle away benefits for our seniors. Trumps foray into Iran is literally pissing away billions upon billions. Would love to see an article here highlighting this….anyone?