WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) was joined by Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach (MN-07) and Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) in sending a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., requesting a formal investigation into Medicaid fraud within the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) and the State of Minnesota’s failure to responsibly administer these programs under Governor Tim Walz. 

The letter outlines recent Medicaid fraud as the latest of numerous incidents within federally funded, state-administered programs that have defrauded taxpayers and calls for accountability from Governor Walz for his failure to put in place meaningful safeguards to prevent fraud within public programs.  

In part, the lawmakers write: 

“Throughout Governor Walz’s tenure, Minnesota has been the epicenter of waste, fraud, and abuse. From the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme to the ongoing Medicaid-related fraud schemes that have cost Minnesota taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. The most recent reported fraudulent activities are being carried out by individuals and organizations exploiting weakness across various Medicaid-funded programs, including the Housing Stabilization Services, autism-related services (including Early Intensive Developmental Behavioral Intervention, or EIDBI), recovery services, and non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT).”  

The letter continues: 

“There is clear evidence of systemic failure within Minnesota DHS to safeguard public funds. As you know, Minnesota DHS receives approximately $20.1 billion in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on an annual basis. The scale and persistence of these issues suggest that the actual amount of fraud may be significantly higher than currently documented.  

“Given the seriousness of these concerns, we believe the only credible path forward is a thorough, independent investigation led by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Federal oversight is critical to restoring public trust, protecting taxpayer dollars, and ensuring that Medicaid funds are used for their intended purpose – supporting vulnerable Minnesotans.” 

Full text of the letter can be found here.