KARE 11 Investigates: Pausing All Payments to Catch Fraud on the Front End

Walz announces audit of '14 high-risk Medicaid services,' pauses payments due to suspected fraud

Share This StoryMinnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced Wednesday that he has ordered a “third-party audit of billing for 14 high-risk Medicaid services” amid widespread fraud in state government. The governor’s office said the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has contracted with Optum, which will analyze Medicaid fee-for-service claims data and flag potential issues for DHS review. Optum’s analytics will identify irregularities such as mi…

Minnesota halts payments in 14 Medicaid programs over fraud concerns

The state has flagged more than a dozen programs as “high-risk.” It’s contracting with Optum to analyze Medicaid claims.

Third party will audit Medicaid billing at Minnesota's Department of Human Services, Walz says

Gov. Tim Walz on Wednesday said that a third party will audit billing for 14 Medicaid services that are deemed to be "high risk" for fraud in Minnesota.

Walz pauses payments for 14 ‘high-risk’ Medicaid programs

Gov. Tim Walz announced Wednesday that his administration is pausing all payments for 14 Medicaid services for up to 90 days until a third-party audit is complete. Walz’s move comes after fraud schemes in Minnesota public programs have gamed state…

14 Medicaid services in Minnesota now under third-party review for fraud

ST. PAUL — Gov. Tim Walz announced on Wednesday, Oct. 29, that he has ordered a third-party audit of billing for 14 Medicaid services in Minnesota to detect fraud. The order directs Minnesota's Department of Human Services (DHS) to contract with Optum, the health services and tech company owned by UnitedHealth, which will analyze Medicaid claims and flag potential issues for the DHS to review. The contract is supported by funding passed in the 2…

Minnesota brings in third-party group to audit high-risk Medicaid program billings

With fraud at the forefront, the Walz administration will use a third-party entity to examine Medicaid billing in high-risk programs to spot problems before they snowball.