DeSantis’ Program To Target Medicaid Fraud Deemed Role Model For States

Separately, an audit by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General found that Maine made at least $45.6 million in improper Medicaid payments for autism services during one review period.

The audit was part of a broader federal examination that identified up to $600 million in potentially questionable Medicaid billing across Indiana, Wisconsin, Maine, and Colorado.

Florida has not faced a major Medicaid fraud indictment involving autism services on the scale seen in some other states, but DeSantis isn’t waiting for one, either

He has said the state is taking preventive steps to strengthen oversight before such problems emerge.

Other states have pursued different approaches to controlling Medicaid costs. According to Axios, Nebraska reduced Medicaid reimbursement rates for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy by as much as 80% last year.

Indiana lawmakers have considered payment caps, while New York has weighed similar reimbursement reductions.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) has also proposed Medicaid budget cuts that families and providers argue could reduce access to services for children with autism.

Supporters of Florida’s Medicaid Integrity Initiative argue that the state’s strategy differs from across-the-board reimbursement cuts because it focuses on identifying fraudulent providers rather than reducing payments for legitimate services.