Oz Blames ‘Weaponization of Fraud’
CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz called Medicaid fraud in Minnesota “weaponized” during an interview on The Katie Miller Podcast. He estimated that fraud nationwide reaches roughly $100 billion. Oz said state officials sometimes exploit federal programs for political favors, creating opportunities that voters cannot easily see.
Political Patronage Drives Enrollment
Oz explained that state health departments can use Medicaid enrollment to reward allies. Federal law requires that new Medicaid enrollees be offered a voter ID, which Oz described as part of a “voter enrichment and enrollment process.” He argued that administrators often focus on boosting numbers rather than checking eligibility.
“If someone doesn’t deserve Medicaid but gets benefits, it limits help for people who truly need it,” Oz said.
Hospice and Home Healthcare Abuses
Oz flagged anomalies in home healthcare, particularly in Southern California. About 30% of hospice services nationwide occur there, and one in ten dollars spent on home care is in Los Angeles alone. He said organized criminal networks exploit these programs.
“These aren’t accidents,” Oz said. He cited Russian and Cuban networks running fraudulent claims for wheelchairs, canes, and medical devices. South Florida also has 20 times more durable medical equipment providers than McDonald’s locations.
Pushback and Investigations
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz expressed skepticism about the federal fraud estimates but said the state investigates and addresses detected abuses. Oz warned that widespread fraud threatens the Medicare trust fund and reduces funding for mental health and rural healthcare services.
The full interview will release at 6 p.m. ET on YouTube, Spotify, Apple, Rumble, and X.
