Arizona GovernorHobbs has unveiled measures to narrow in on a fraudulent Medicaid scam targeting Native Americans through billing for outpatient health services to alleged criminal activity.
The Hobbs administration was joined by 13 representatives from indigenous tribes and the director of Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, or AHCCCS, to announce they will suspend payments to over 100 providers and can expect more.Behavioral health companies are suspected of billing for mental health treatment and addiction rehabilitation that was never supplied.
The FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office joined the investigation, which rounded up at least 45 indictments and seized or recovered $75 million. Attorney General Kris Mayes said the Medicaid fraud was so extreme that the accused was billing people who were in jail, dead, or not residing in Arizona, and “some of these scammers didn’t even bill [the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System] for people they were in contact with."
Representatives also called for AHCCCS to be held responsible, as this crisis has been silently going on for years under former Director Jami Snyder. Heredia currently serves as the director of AHCCCS and Arizona’s Medicaid and CHIP Program after being appointed by Hobbs in December 2022."AHCCCS also needs to be held accountable for allowing this to happen for the last three years," said Thomas Cody, executive director for Navajo Divisional Social Services.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Arizona cracks down on Medicaid, sober living home fraud targeting Native Americans: 'This is tragic'The state of Arizona is cracking down on an alleged Medicaid fraud and a scheme that takes advantage of vulnerable Native Americans.
Read more »
State uncovers massive Medicaid fraud targeting Native AmericansGovernor Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes announced the state suspended payments to more than 100 health care providers. MORE ⬇️
Read more »
USU joins other Utah universities in offering free tuition for Native AmericansUtah State University announced Monday the launch of a new scholarship for Native American students that covers tuition and student body fees that are not covered by other scholarships and grants.
Read more »
1.63 million 'excess deaths' among Black Americans compared to white Americans in last 20 years: StudyNEW YORK — A new study from the medical journal JAMA Network estimates there were 1.63 million excess deaths among Black Americans between 1999 and 2020. 'Excess deaths' is an estimate of how many people died above and beyond what is expected, according to the study.
Read more »
Texas HHS holding events to help people renew Medicaid coverageMedicaid covered many during the COVID pandemic, but now protections have started being rolled back.
Read more »
Medicaid Expansion: Mississippi Hospital Association Donation to Democrat Gubernatorial Candidate Ruptures GroupMembers of the Mississippi Hospital Association have terminated their membership after it donated $250,000 to Democrat gubernatorial candidate Brandon Presley.
Read more »