Trump's week in review: Crackdown on healthcare fraud, Coast Guard members reinstated
4. Trump administration announces new steps to combat healthcare fraud
At a White House event Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz announced new steps the Trump administration was taking to combat Medicaid and Medicare fraud both in Minnesota and nationwide.
Oz detailed how “there is a fraud scheme in Minnesota where criminals, soon to be criminals, pay moms $1,000, roughly, in order to enroll their children as being autistic, falsely, dishonestly claiming their children are autistic.”
“They then bill Medicaid, this has already happened, millions of dollars for services that were never rendered, never delivered by a qualified staff member,” Oz added.
Vance began the press conference by lamenting how “A program that existed to ensure that autistic children had access to some after school services has made a number of people rich.”
As a result of this fraud in Minnesota, the Trump administration has announced its decision to defer $259 million in Medicaid payments to the state while an investigation is completed. Oz also discussed a $1.1 billion Medicare fraud scheme involving durable medical equipment for senior citizens that has prompted the Trump administration to issue a six-month moratorium on new enrollment for durable medical equipment.
The third aspect of CMS’ crackdown on fraud, the CRUSH Initiative, invites “providers and suppliers and payers and technology companies” as well as patient advocates and beneficiaries to inform the Trump administration of any examples of fraud they see as part of an effort to “supercharge program integrity over the next six months.” Those who see examples of Medicare or Medicaid fraud can call 1-800-HHS-TIPS or visit cms.gov/fraud.
Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com
