Tallahassee, Florida — Florida state officials are lagging behind other states in recovering and preventing Medicaid fraud, despite overseeing one of the nation’s largest and most vulnerable populations of elderly and disabled residents, according to an investigation by The Center Square.
All 50 states operate Medicaid Fraud Control Units tasked with investigating abuse and provider fraud. However, the most recent comparative data from 2022 shows Florida ranked third nationally in recovered Medicaid dollars at $88.3 million, trailing Texas, which recovered $219.9 million, despite Florida having a Medicaid budget of $28.3 billion and a population of more than 22 million. Louisiana recovered nearly as much as Florida with just one-fifth of the population.
Florida’s Attorney General reported that the state prevented $236.2 million in Medicaid fraud in 2024, down $9 million from the previous year. State officials argue recovery totals fluctuate based on court timelines and jury decisions, noting that Florida recovered more than Louisiana in 2024.
Federal enforcement efforts in Florida tell a different story. The Southern District of Florida led the nation in health care fraud prison sentences, with 65 convictions, far exceeding other federal districts. Miami was also the first city to host a Medicare Strike Force, a specialized federal unit targeting fraud against seniors.
Despite these federal successes, past audits found Florida state agencies repeatedly failed to suspend payments to providers facing credible fraud allegations, allowing millions in improper payments to continue. Florida officials say processes have improved, though scrutiny is expected to increase as the Trump administration intensifies its focus on entitlement fraud nationwide.
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