Minnesota Attorney General's fraud unit expects funding boost — but what's its track record?

Minnesota lawmakers reached a deal to increase funding for the attorney general’s Medicaid fraud unit and expand its power to investigate fraud.

Lawmakers agreed this week to spend $1.23 million this year on the Minnesota Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU). Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office said that is enough to hire 18 additional staff members, specifically, 11 investigators, 3 attorneys and 4 support staff.

The office said the federal government matches that funding three-to-one. Lawmakers also set aside another $2.46 million for the next budget cycle.

Beyond the funding

The bill would also expand the definition of fraud under state law to allow more types of schemes to be prosecuted, and it would give the MFCU the power to subpoena financial records during criminal Medical Assistance fraud investigations.

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS asked Ellison on Friday…

CLICK HERE to read the FULL Minnesota Attorney General's fraud unit expects funding boost — but what's its track record? article.

This type of fraud targets the supply chain and accounts payable departments of businesses.

• Invoice Manipulation: Criminals intercept a legitimate invoice between a supplier and a client and change the banking details to their own. The client pays the bill thinking they are paying their trusted vendor.
• Kickbacks and Bribery: A vendor secretly pays an employee of the purchasing company to ensure their bid is successful or to overlook inflated pricing.