DES MOINES— Gov. Reynolds today signed an executive order establishing the Iowa Medicaid Fraud Elimination Task Force for the purpose of eradicating Medicaid fraud, waste, and abuse, and ensuring funds are used to support the needs of Iowans who qualify for benefits.
The governor has appointed Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird to serve as chair of the task force.
“Safeguarding federal programs like Medicaid from bad actors requires accountability at every point in the process, from member eligibility verification to provider enrollment and billing,” said Governor Kim Reynolds. “By identifying and eliminating fraud and abuse from Iowa Medicaid, we will protect taxpayer dollars, strengthen public trust, and ensure these critical benefits remain available to the Iowans who not only qualify for them, but rely on them for their health and well-being.”
“Every time someone commits Medicaid fraud, they are taking funds away from programs that help people who desperately need them,” said Attorney General Brenna Bird. “I’m grateful Governor Reynolds is committed to rooting out fraud that is hurting Iowans and I look forward to leading this new Medicaid Fraud Elimination Task Force.”
Other members of Iowa’s Medicaid Fraud Elimination Task Force will include:
- Principal Deputy Director of the Department of Health and Human Services;
- Director of Iowa Medicaid;
- Director of Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing;
- Director of Iowa’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit;
- Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety;
- Director of the Department of Management;
- Designated representative from the Office of the Governor; and
- One member from each of Iowa’s managed care organizations: Wellpoint Iowa, Iowa Total Care, and Molina Healthcare of Iowa.
Governor Reynolds has directed the task force to focus on the following strategies to prevent and combat fraud, waste and abuse:
- Strengthen alignment with Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) and federal program integrity initiatives, and with federal actions to suspend enrollment of new high-risk providers;
- Promote Medicaid fraud reporting resources and public accountability, including increased public awareness and incentives for fraud reporting that are available under Iowa law;
- Invest in program integrity technology using recovered funds;
- Support Managed Care Organizations’ (MCOs) provider network management;
- Establish Integrity Quality Initiatives focused on high-risk services and electronic visit verification; and
- Enhance methods for the public to report suspected Medicaid fraud.
The task force is required to hold its first meeting no later than July 17, 2026. Its final report with recommendations on a statewide strategy to eliminate Medicaid waste, fraud, and abuse, is due to the governor in 120 days.
