Minnesota State Wire

Brad Finstad, representative of Minnesota, said that a new fraud investigation reveals ongoing mismanagement of public programs and the reality of Medicaid fraud in the state. The statement was made on X.

"Another massive fraud investigation and yet another example of how the Gov. Tim Walz Administration continues to make a mess of the public programs in our state," said Finstad. "Medicaid fraud is real and is happening right here in our backyard. Shameful."

Recent Medicaid fraud investigations in Minnesota have intensified, with state officials and lawmakers increasing oversight following several high-profile cases, as reported by the Star Tribune. The Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor and Department of Human Services have implemented stricter auditing and compliance measures to combat waste and abuse, reflecting broader concerns about program integrity and proper stewardship of taxpayer funds.

According to the Minnesota Department of Human Services, the state identified 165 Medicaid fraud cases in the past year. This resulted in over $32 million in improper payments being recovered or prevented, marking a significant financial impact and demonstrating the scale of ongoing enforcement efforts.

A report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicates that Minnesota’s Medicaid fraud trends align with national patterns. States across the U.S. have ramped up investigations and recovered more than $1.9 billion in fraudulent Medicaid payments in 2023, with Minnesota ranking in the upper half for enforcement outcomes.

Finstad is a U.S. Representative from Minnesota’s 1st District and a former state legislator, as profiled by Ballotpedia. He is known for supporting robust oversight of public programs, focusing on accountability, rural healthcare access, and proper management of state and federal funds.