Minnesota expands Medicaid fraud unit and penalties

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is proposing to expand the state's Medicaid fraud control unit from 32 to 41 staff members. This aims to recover more funds from providers who commit fraud against the Medicaid program, which serves over 1.4 million residents. The proposed legislation includes tougher penalties for Medicaid fraud, with fines up to $100,000 for significant thefts and prison sentences of up to 20 years. Currently, the maximum penalty is 2.5 years. The expansion is part of Governor Tim Walz's budget proposal and has bipartisan support. A recent review suggested that increasing the unit's size is necessary to address the growing Medicaid program effectively.