Minnesota Targets Medicaid Fraud with New Legislation

Minnesota is taking significant legislative steps to combat fraud within its Medicaid program and offer restitution to fraud victims. Attorney General Keith Ellison’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is set to receive additional resources and authority under the new Medical Assistance Protection Act, which introduces harsher penalties for Medicaid fraud, including a potential 20-year prison sentence. The bill proposes adding nine new staff members and granting subpoena authority to the Attorney General's Office, enhancing its capacity to prosecute fraudulent activities. Meanwhile, another proposed bill aims to establish a consumer fraud restitution fund to financially aid victims like those affected by the abrupt closure of Woodbury Dental Arts, capped at $1 million annually, and supported by Sen. Ann Rest and AARP Minnesota. Both initiatives reflect Minnesota's broader efforts to safeguard public funds and support vulnerable populations against fraudulent activities.