DeWine announces plan to crack down on Medicaid fraud

Gov. Mike DeWine on Wednesday unveiled new measures to crack down on Medicaid fraud, including tighter oversight of home healthcare providers and increased scrutiny of providers flagged for suspicious activity (Source: “DeWine announces new Ohio Medicaid fraud crackdown measures amid criticism from top GOP lawmakers,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 13).
 
The announcement came shortly after top legislative leaders accused DeWine and his former Department of Medicaid director of not doing enough to combat fraud within the state’s government health insurance program.
 
Medicaid is the single largest state program in Ohio, with a total budget of $43.18 billion last fiscal year in both state and federal money.
 
Many Ohio Republican officeholders have raised concerns about Medicaid fraud for years -- especially regarding the state’s oversight over home healthcare companies, which provide non-medical services such as cooking and cleaning to elderly and disabled enrollees.