‘This Is Theft’: Republicans Escalate Medicaid Fraud Crackdown After $90M Bust

House Republicans are ramping up efforts to crack down on Medicaid fraud after the Department of Justice charged 15 individuals in a sprawling Medicaid fraud scheme involving more than $90 million in stolen taxpayer funds.

The effort is championed by Rep. Brad Finstad (R-MN), who says it’s time for Congress to increase oversight and enforcement across Medicare, Medicaid, and federal healthcare programs. 

“For far too long, fraud has run rampant through our federal health care programs, stealing billions of taxpayer dollars from hardworking Americans,” Finstad told The Daily Wire. He said his resolution “commits congressional Republicans to continue investigating and prosecuting fraud schemes bleeding taxpayer dollars.” 

The Minnesota Republican’s proposal comes as federal investigators uncover what officials describe as increasingly sophisticated fraud operations siphoning taxpayer money from government healthcare programs.

Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger (R-TX) praised the effort and vowed Republicans would continue pursuing criminals exploiting the system.

“This is theft, plain and simple,” Pfluger said. “I am proud to cosponsor this resolution and support the Trump administration’s aggressive actions to hold bad actors accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

Pfluger added that Republicans are committed to “cracking down on every criminal who robs taxpayers through Medicare and Medicaid fraud.”

The resolution has already drawn support from a dozen House Republicans.

The renewed GOP push also commits to supporting the Trump administration’s expanding investigations into suspected Medicaid abuse across multiple states.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz told Fox News Digital, “We’ve written letters to Minnesota, California, a letter to Florida because we’re worried about the durable medical equipment fraud … New York, Maine, and there are more coming.” Oz added that while several states have already been flagged, federal officials are monitoring all 50 states. 

Despite one of the letters going to Florida, a red state, Maine Democratic Gov. Janet Mills labeled the Medicaid investigation a predetermined “political cudgel.” 

“Addressing alleged fraud has become a political cudgel that he [President Trump] is using to desperately distract from his failing agenda,” Mills said. “And let’s be clear about who he is using that cudgel against: Democratic-led states, and people like me who dare to stand up to him.” 

Finstad’s resolution pledges House Republicans will pursue Medicaid fraud wherever it exists, in red states or blue states, arguing that taxpayer theft has no party affiliation.