Is NC catching enough Medicaid fraud? Lawmakers question state officials

As state lawmakers and Gov. Josh Stein grapple with a $300-million Medicaid shortfall, questions arise over whether fraud is going undetected.

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Oversight of the state’s Medicaid program is well equipped to protect against fraud, and safeguards are in place to detect and prevent waste and abuse, state officials told North Carolina lawmakers at a hearing on Thursday.

The message comes amid a standoff over funding for the program, which provides healthcare to 3 million low-income and disabled North Carolinians. Democratic Gov. Josh Stein says lawmakers need to approve more funding for the program to survive. Lawmakers say the program needs to be managed better.

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“The Medicaid costs in this state are out of control. We've seen some other states where massive fraud has gone on. North Carolina has a 99% renewal rate for folks on Medicaid. It's basically impossible to get off Medicaid in this state.”

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