Iowa governor defends companies selected to manage Medicaid program

Republican Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad is defending the companies selected to manage the state’s $4.2 billion Medicaid program, despite reports that all four have been involved in high-priced fraud settlements, according to the Des Moines Register.

Earlier this month, the Register reported that the four companies selected to manage the state’s Medicaid program faced serious fraud charges while managing programs in other states:

  • In 2008, Amerigroup paid $225 million to settle claims that it defrauded the Illinois Medicaid program by neglecting to enroll pregnant women and unhealthy patients.
  • In 2009, WellCare paid $80 million to settle claims that it inflated health costs in Florida’s Medicaid program.
  • In 2014, UnitedHealthcare was fined $173.6 million by the state of California for failing to make timely payments.
  • In 2011, AmeriHealth paid $2 million to Kentucky for falsely reporting procedures such as Pap smears.

Source: Iowa governor defends companies selected to manage Medicaid program

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