John Connolly

The Trump administration deferred over $1 billion in Medicaid payments to California and Minnesota due to 'suspected fraud and noncompliance.' Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated the actions aim to prevent fraud before spending occurs. Minnesota and California officials criticized the move as politically motivated, with no provided data on how the deferrals were calculated.

The Trump administration deferred $199 million in Medicaid payments to Minnesota, citing suspected fraud and noncompliance. The action is part of a broader strategy to prevent fraudulent spending in states like California, with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. emphasizing preemptive measures. Minnesota and California officials criticized the move as politically motivated.

The Trump administration announced deferring over $1 billion in Medicaid payments to Minnesota and California due to 'suspected fraud and noncompliance.' The states accuse the administration of political motives, with Minnesota's governor suggesting the funds are being withheld to finance tax cuts for wealthy Americans, and California's governor claiming political targeting.

Shireen Gandhi resigned from Minnesota’s Department of Human Services after a 15-month tenure marked by efforts to combat fraud and scrutiny over oversight practices. She was demoted to deputy commissioner before her resignation and faced criticism from lawmakers regarding her handling of fraud in the agency.

Minnesota is extending the Medicaid pause on new providers for 12 high-risk services for six more months, part of a revalidation process required to maintain $2 billion in federal Medicaid funding. Thousands of providers have been disenrolled for failing to meet revalidation criteria, with nearly three-quarters of cases due to incomplete documentation. The pause does not apply to the Early Intensive Developmental Behavioral Intervention program or other licensing freezes.

Minnesota's Department of Human Services reviewed nearly 5,500 social service providers in high-risk areas like autism and elderly care over five months, leading to widespread disruptions. Nearly two-thirds of providers received disenrollment notices due to paperwork issues, site visit failures, or background checks, causing payment interruptions and uncertainty for families relying on these services.