STAT+: Inside HHS’ anti-fraud efforts: An aggressive crackdown sweeps up mainly Democratic-led states

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Source: STAT News

Original: https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/05/hhs-fraud-crackdown-blue-states/?utm_campaig...

Published: Thu, 05 Feb 2026 09:30:00 +0000

The Trump administration is implementing aggressive health care fraud crackdowns through HHS, targeting states with Democratic leadership in particular.[6] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz filmed a video in Los Angeles showing a four-block area with 42 hospices and hinting at possible fraud.[6] In another video, he called Russian and Armenian groups in Los Angeles a "mafia" that normalized fraud.[6] These actions represent a departure from the traditional focus on individual frauds and instead affect entire states.[6] HHS-OIG identified $7.13 billion in expected recoveries from audits and investigations in 2024, including $6.3 billion from investigations and 1,548 criminal and civil actions.[2] They excluded 3,234 untrustworthy individuals and entities from federal health care programs.[2] For 2026, HHS-OIG is requesting $454.4 million for oversight of Medicare and Medicaid.[2]