Federal Officials Target Florida as Latest State in Medicaid Fraud Investigation

The Trump administration has expanded its nationwide Medicaid fraud investigation to include Florida, marking the fifth state targeted this year. Dr. Mehmet Oz called Florida a longtime "hotspot" for healthcare fraud and demanded state officials provide detailed information about their oversight programs.

Federal health officials have expanded their nationwide investigation into Medicaid fraud by targeting Florida, marking the fifth state to face scrutiny from the Trump administration this year.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, who leads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, sent a formal request Tuesday to Florida officials demanding detailed information about how the state identifies and combats fraudulent activity within its Medicaid program.

The federal administrator has issued comparable demands to officials in New York, Minnesota, Maine and California as part of a broader Trump administration campaign against fraud and waste in government benefit programs.

Florida represents the first Republican-controlled state to receive such a request from Oz, signaling the administration’s intention to pursue fraud investigations without regard to party politics.

The Florida investigation follows President Trump’s Monday executive order establishing a federal anti-fraud task force under Vice President JD Vance’s leadership, as concerns about government spending resonate with voters ahead of upcoming elections.

In his social media announcement, Oz declared that Florida “has been a hotspot for health care fraud for years” and urged state leadership to “step up and work with us to stop it.”

The federal administrator pointed to previous large-scale fraudulent operations within Florida’s Medicare and Medicaid systems that led to criminal prosecutions, stating that the extensive nature of these schemes requires additional oversight information from state officials.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier acknowledged Oz’s concerns on social media platform X, highlighting a recent Medicaid fraud arrest within the state.

“The Medicaid system is overwhelmed with fraud and abuse, and we look forward to working with Dr. Oz on these issues,” Uthmeier stated.

Representatives for Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration have not yet responded to media requests for comment. Federal officials have given state leaders 30 days to answer a comprehensive list of questions.

In January, CMS suspended Medicaid payments to Minnesota due to fraud concerns, prompting Democratic Governor Tim Walz to condemn the action as politically motivated. Oz indicated funding would resume only after Minnesota develops a thorough corrective strategy.

Federal officials have also implemented a six-month freeze on new Medicare enrollments for suppliers of medical equipment and prosthetics to address suspected billing irregularities.