Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin has joined attorneys general from 16 other states in urging Congress to pass the STOP FRAUD in Medicaid Act, which aims to strengthen efforts to curb Medicaid fraud. Griffin announced Tuesday that he signed a letter supporting the legislation, which would grant state Medicaid Fraud Control Units expanded authority to investigate Medicaid recipients, not just healthcare providers.
Under current federal laws, state units tasked with combating Medicaid fraud are restricted to investigating providers. Griffin highlighted that this limitation prevents his office from pursuing cases of fraud committed by Medicaid recipients. "This bill would give us the tools we need to target fraud comprehensively," Griffin stated in the announcement.
The importance of such measures is underscored by the work of Arkansas’ Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, which reportedly recovered nearly $2 billion in fiscal year 2025. The proposed bill would broaden enforcement authority nationwide, aligning with these efforts.
The initiative is led by South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson and has garnered support from the attorneys general of Alaska, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and West Virginia.
The STOP FRAUD in Medicaid Act underscores a growing national interest in enhancing oversight and reducing misuse within the Medicaid program, a taxpayer-funded initiative providing healthcare to low-income individuals and families. The letter signed by the coalition of attorneys general has been submitted to Congress for consideration.