By Paul Waldmiller
Did you Know that the famous TV television show host and now, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Dr. Mehemt Oz has demanded action from Florida officials to address Medicaid fraud?
According to Dr. Oz, Florida is a long-standing “hotspot” for healthcare fraud. In a letter sent to Governor Ron DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier in mid-March 2026, Oz gave state leaders thirty days to respond with detailed information on how Florida identifies, prevents, and prosecutes fraud in its Medicaid program.
Florida’s fraud concerns center around durable medical equipment scams, particularly in South Florida, where Oz described the scale of fraud as “horrifying and out of control.” He highlighted schemes involving fake billing for unshipped products, fictitious companies, and stolen beneficiary data, with tens of billions of taxpayer dollars allegedly siphoned.
Both federal and state responses include a 6-month moratorium onnew Medicare enrollments for DME suppliers and active cooperation from Florida officials. Florida Attorney General Uthmeier acknowledged the system is “overwhelmed with fraud and abuse” and cited recent arrests, including one involving stolen funds for non-emergency medical transportation for disabled children. Governor DeSantis’ office affirmed a zero-tolerance policy and pledged full collaboration.
This is the first time a Republican-led state has been publicly targeted in the Trump administration’s expanding Medicaid fraud crackdown, which previously focused on New York, Minnesota, Maine, and California—signaling a nonpartisan enforcement approach