DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa State Capitol Bureau) — The head of Iowa’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit said his team secured 37 fraud convictions and recovered $3.9 million during the previous fiscal year, but said more could be done.
The update came during the third meeting of the newly formed Iowa Medicaid Fraud Elimination Task Force.
Jeremy Ingram, director of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, said Iowa’s nine-member unit is one of the smallest in the country, costing $1.3 million.
Director calls for more collaboration
Ingram said the state should be enforcing the Civil False Claims Act more to reduce Medicaid fraud. He said those cases could bring more money back to the state.
“It is imperative that the Iowa Medicaid fraud control unit, Iowa Medicaid, and managed care organizations continue to collaborate to increase and enhance fraud referrals, streamline the flow of fraud tips to…
This remains the most prevalent form of financial crime globally. It targets the direct access points to your money: your cards and your bank accounts.
- Skimming: Criminals use small devices called “skimmers” placed over ATM or point-of-sale card slots to capture the data from your card’s magnetic strip.
- Card-Not-Present (CNP) Fraud: This occurs during online shopping where a physical card isn’t required. Thieves use stolen card numbers, expiry dates, and CVV codes to make unauthorized purchases.
- Account Takeover (ATO): A hacker gains access to your online banking credentials (often through malware or phishing) and changes the contact details or passwords, locking you out while they drain your funds.