A crackdown on Medicaid fraud leaves Native American patients in the lurch

September 13, 2024 / 12:51 pm

caption: A billboard is seen in Scottsdale, Ariz., Saturday, June 10, 2023, near the health care facility of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, which has been affected by a gigantic Medicaid fraud scheme involving sober living homes that promised help to Native Americans seeking to kick alcohol and other additions. (Anita Snow/AP)

One year after Arizona officials cracked down on a Medicaid fraud scheme that preyed on Native Americans, many of its victims are still seeking help.

In 2023, the state said hundreds of health care providers had been overbilling Medicaid. In some cases, providers charged public health insurance plans for fake substance abuse treatment programs that did next to nothing for people in need.

But after the state stopped doing business with many of these providers, patients and advocates say they’ve been left with nowhere to go.

Hannah Bassett and Mary Hudetz reported this story for the Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting and ProPublica. They discuss their work with Here & Now‘s Anthony Brooks.

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.