The struggle against fraud within Medicare and Medicaid is gaining attention. These programs often function as open-ended entitlements, making it challenging to distinguish scams from aggressive billing practices.
On May 13, 2026, the U.S. Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Mehmet Oz, addressed a press conference with Vice President JD Vance present. They discussed new initiatives to combat fraud.
Published by the Manhattan Institute, the City Journal focuses on urban policy issues. Recently, the Trump administration highlighted the pressing issue of fraud in Medicare and Medicaid.
According to Mehmet Oz, ‘the full weight of the federal government is going after healthcare fraudsters—protecting American families and patients.’
Oz revealed a staggering estimate of $100 billion in annual fraud within Medicaid. To address this, his agency recently took action against 800 hospices in Los Angeles, which allegedly provided sham services amounting to $1.4 billion in payments last year.