Saint Paul, Minn. – Legislation to strengthen Minnesota’s fight against Medicaid fraud, authored by Senator Ann Johnson Stewart (DFL – Minnetonka) and championed by Attorney General Keith Ellison, has passed the Senate as part of the supplemental finance bill (SF4059).
The MAP Act boosts staffing for the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in the Office of the Attorney General, improves legal tools to go after complex fraud schemes, and helps the state recover stolen funds more efficiently.
“The Medical Assistance Protection Act is about protecting taxpayer dollars and making sure that critical Medical Assistance resources go to the Minnesotans who need them,” said Senator Johnson Stewart. “By strengthening enforcement and investing in proven tools, we are holding bad actors accountable, safeguarding the integrity of Medical Assistance, and returning money to our state.
The MAP Act addresses a rise in fraud referrals by adding additional attorneys and investigators to the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, bringing it into alignment with states that have similar Medicaid budgets. The unit receives a 3-to-1 federal funding match, so this state investment is expected to significantly increase Minnesota’s capacity to recover stolen funds and criminals accountable.
The legislation also expands the scope of fraud schemes that the unit can prosecute and enhancing penalties for high dollar cases and extending the statute of limitations to preserve the state’s ability to recover funds.
“When we invest in accountability, we’re bringing money back into our system,” said Senator Johnson Stewart. “That’s a win for taxpayers and for the long-term stability of Medical Assistance and in turn our entire healthcare system.”
The overall Supplemental Finance Omnibus bill passed on a vote of 35-31.
Learn more about Sen. Johnson Stewart.
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