Minnesota’s Medicaid director is facing questions from Congress Thursday as federal lawmakers examine fraud in the state’s Medicaid program.
John Connolly with the Minnesota Department of Human Services is testifying as part of a Congressional investigation into Medicaid fraud nationwide. He explained how the state has handled its review process and how the state helps those providers who have been unenrolled.
"So, for example, when we disenroll providers, we work closely with counties and in some cases reach out directly to affected Minnesotans to help beneficiaries connect with alternative providers and resources," Connolly testified.
Earlier this year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services deferred $350 million in Medicaid funding from Minnesota after federal officials said an audit found unusually high spending, and rapid growth in 14 high-risk Medicaid programs.
Connolly explained to Congress the screening process for new Medicaid providers in those high-risk programs to combat fraud, and also addressed the issue of when the funds that have been withheld will be released.
"We have done everything since December 5th, and the notification that they were requiring a corrective action plan of us," Connolly added. "And have implemented every step and milestone in that corrective action plan since we submitted it."
He was then asked if there's indication of whether the payments will be released.
"None yet," Connolly answered.
He was also questioned how fraud got so bad in Minnesota and what the state is doing now to get fraud under control and prevent it from happening again.
