Senator Ashley Moody said that she is aiming to curb Medicaid fraud.
Republican Senator Ashley Moody Unveils New Bill Targeting Medicaid Fraudsters
March 25 2026, Published 11:22 a.m. ET
Former Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has taken major steps to curb Medicaid fraud. In her battle to stop scammers from benefiting from the program, she plans to close the legal loophole that previously allowed fraudsters to receive fraudulent benefits.
The current law only prosecutes fraud from the provider’s side. But her STOP FRAUD in Medicaid Act would allow prosecutors to target the recipients of the fraudulent benefits as well.
Moody’s Plan Against Fraudsters Misusing the Medicaid Act
According to a Fox News report, Moody's resentment against the fraudsters stems from her experience as Florida’s attorney general. During her tenure as the attorney general of Florida, she was reportedly bound to prosecute only on the provider side.
She now plans to close the legal loophole which she thinks allows for such fraud to take place. If successful, it would grant attorney generals and Medicaid Fraud Control Units the ability not only to investigate the recipients of the unfair benefits, but also to prosecute them. Fox News received an exclusive statement from her, where she stated that she had been vehemently fighting fraud during her time as Florida’s attorney general.
Representative Claudia Tenney talks about the abuse of Medicare and Medicaid through fraudulent billing in Los Angeles County.
In the process, she has reportedly recovered millions of dollars for taxpayers. However, she wants to continue her fight as a senator. She says that she wants to find and close gaps in the laws to “increase enforcement.” Moody stated, “The STOP FRAUD in Medicaid Act gives state attorney generals the authority to pursue and prosecute not just providers but recipients looking to bilk taxpayers.”
The Fox News report mentioned that her office had permitted federal prosecutors to go after fraud recipients under anti-kickback laws. Moody’s office said, “Empowering MFCUs would go a long way toward picking up the slack.”
Though it has not been confirmed that the new law will be effective, the report suggests that it could be a positive addition for the state of Florida.
Medicaid Scams in Minnesota
Minnesota, a blue state, has grown a reputation for being part of several notorious scams that have swindled millions, if not billions, of dollars. One such scam involved an autism center that fraudulently billed millions of dollars from people for its services.
The Fox News report mentions that the center’s operator used a clever tactic to offer payments and benefits if families enrolled to it. This led to exaggerated claims, eventually contributing to the misuse of taxpayer money meant to help children with autism.
Additionally, kickbacks were a major component in the fraud schemes. The prosecutors in the case described how providers used financial remuneration to attract and retain families to maximize Medicaid billing.