GOP solutions vs. DFL Medicaid fraud

Thus far this year, the biggest storyline in Minnesota has been the Medicaid fraud cases. Thus far, the DFL hasn't lifted a finger to prevent Medicaid fraud. All they've done is issue this statement. Temporary DHS Commissioner Shireen Gandhi's statement said "The Minnesota Department of Human Services is focused on rooting out fraud and abuse to protect taxpayer dollars and the people we serve. We have investigated thousands of Medicaid providers in recent years. DHS regularly provides critical data and information to law enforcement that assists with their actions."

The first time I read that boilerplate statement, I missed the part about how "DHS regularly provides critical data and information to law enforcement that assists with their actions." Fat lotta good that does. Law enforcement doesn't get involved until a crime is potentially committed. Taxpayers want fraud prevented rather than fraudsters getting prosecuted. Fraud prevention means that the money didn’t get pilfered.

Rep. Kristin Robbins, the chair of the House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee, issued this statement:

For years, DHS has failed to prevent massive fraud and abuse, costing taxpayers what will be over $1 billion when investigations are said and done, according to Acting U.S. Attorney for Minnesota, Joseph Thompson. This culture of corruption must end. It’s time for real accountability, and that starts with a full, independent federal audit.

The people of Minnesota deserve to know where their money is going and why so little has been done to stop this theft. We cannot wait any longer for more hearings and reform packages. It is time for action, and a full audit by our federal partners will help us get to the root of the problem more quickly. Taxpayers and vulnerable Minnesotans are counting on us to stop the fraud."

We're in this position because the DFL filibustered the bill when it got to the House. The Senate bill would've created the Office of Inspector General. Had the Senate bill got signed into law, the IG would've had the authority to prosecute people. The bill wouldn't just write reports or make recommendations. The House DFL preferred that type of bill. The DFL didn't want a bill with teeth in it. Check this out:

The Letter

Over the last several months there have been news stories regarding federal search warrants executed suggesting Minnesota taxpayers have had hundreds of millions of dollars stolen by criminals who perpetrate fraudulent Medicaid billing schemes. We have seen fraud in several Medicaid programs such as: Housing Stabilization Services, the autism program - Early Intensive Developmental Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI), recovery services and non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT), to name a few.

This fraud has gone unchecked for years, despite numerous reports by our Office of Legislative Auditor about the lack of proper internal controls, problems with verifying eligibility and overpayments or double billing.

Unfortunately, we believe this is just the tip of the iceberg and we think the time has long past for "reforms" that have been suggested but not implemented. To date, no one in the Minnesota Department of Human Services has been held accountable for the documented hundreds of millions of dollars that have been stolen. Instead, those involved in overseeing these programs continue to work at the department, sometimes being shifted to other positions - or even promoted - but not having any apparent sanction for allowing this fraud to take root over many years.

It's apparent that the DFL isn't interested in preventing fraud. Frankly, there's little evidence that the DFL has an appetite for investigating potential fraud. That says everything.