WTAS: E&C Republicans’ Agenda “Continuing the Fight Against Fraud”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, highlighted additional statements of support for Energy and Commerce Republicans’ agenda “Continuing the Fight Against Fraud.”
Don’t miss what advocates are saying:
Minnesota State Representative Kristin Robbins, House District 37A, in support of Medicaid Whistleblower Protection Act:
“I am so grateful for the leadership of Congresswoman Miller-Meeks and the House Energy & Commerce Committee for introducing this Whistleblower Protection bill. Too often, as we have seen in Minnesota, brave whistleblowers are retaliated against by politicians and agency leaders who are more interested in protecting their political base than taxpayers and vulnerable citizens. The federal, state and county workers who run these programs are often the first to see red flags but, as we have seen time and again in Minnesota, if they dare to point it out, they are called racist, accused of creating a hostile work environment, demoted, reassigned or otherwise harmed personally and professionally.
“The Whistleblower Protection bill will expand protections for federal, state and county employees so they can do what they do best – serve the public, help vulnerable citizens and protect taxpayers’ hard-earned money. States across the country should look at their own whistleblower protection statutes and ensure that whistleblowers can report to someone outside their agency, such as legislators, federal officials, or law enforcement. They should also make sure the statute of limitations is long enough to provide robust protection for whistleblowers and to ensure fraud crimes are prosecuted. These cases can take years to come to light and investigate, and we need to ensure accountability by providing at least a 10-year statute of limitations.
“I am so grateful for the brave whistleblowers who CONTINUE to reach out and expose fraud in Minnesota, often at great personal and professional risk. They have made an enormous difference in our state, and it has led to the national efforts to fight fraud across the country. The whistleblowers are unsung heroes, and they deserve our protection at the state and federal level.”
Rachel Barkley, Director, Able Americans:
“Medicaid is a lifeline for millions of Americans with disabilities, making it possible for people to receive essential health care and long-term services and supports, live independently, and participate in their communities. Protecting the integrity of this program is essential to protecting the people who depend on it.
“Able Americans applauds the House Energy and Commerce Committee for advancing commonsense reforms to combat fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicaid and strengthen accountability for taxpayer dollars. Every dollar lost to fraud is a dollar that cannot be used to provide services and supports to people who genuinely need them.
“We particularly welcome efforts to strengthen oversight of home- and community-based services while preserving states’ ability to administer programs effectively. Strong program integrity and strong services for people with disabilities are not competing goals—they go hand in hand.
“Americans with disabilities deserve a Medicaid program that is sustainable, accountable, and focused on the people it was created to serve.”
Brandon Arnold, Executive Vice President, National Taxpayers Union:
“National Taxpayers Union (NTU) applauds Chairman Brett Guthrie and his colleagues on the House Energy and Commerce Committee for introducing a series of bills to root out fraud and abuse in the Medicaid program. With the national debt now exceeding $40 trillion, it’s imperative to cut the fat out of the federal budget. That process should begin with reducing waste, fraud and abuse in programs like Medicaid, which issued more than $31 billion in improper payments in fiscal year 2024. NTU looks forward to working with the Chairman and members of the Committee on this critically important effort.”
Dean Clancy, Senior Health Policy Fellow, Americans for Prosperity:
“Congratulations to members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee for leading the fight to eliminate wasteful spending in Medicaid, an essential part of making health care affordable for all Americans. Too many safety-net dollars today are diverted from needy families to greedy fraudsters, or else lost to bureaucratic errors and weak financial controls. This ultimately inflates costs for everyone. By giving states strong new tools to detect, prevent, and recoup funds, you are protecting not only the taxpayer but also patients’ access to affordable health care.”
Jenn Pellegrino, Founder, Defend Forgotten America:
“Defend Forgotten America applauds the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s efforts to strengthen Medicaid program integrity by giving states better tools and incentives to detect fraud, recover improper payments, improve accountability, and ensure taxpayer dollars reach the patients and providers who legitimately depend on them.
“Importantly, these bills would increase transparency, coordination, and data sharing among local, state, and federal agencies so officials can identify vulnerabilities and fraudulent activity earlier and act on reliable, actionable information.
“Energy and Commerce Republicans are putting forth commonsense reforms that can improve accountability across every level of government and protect the long-term integrity of Medicaid for the Americans it was designed to serve.”
Maya MacGuineas, President, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget and Fix the Debt:
“We should be focusing on the best ways to bring health care costs down for the federal government; that includes making every effort to ensure health care spending actually pays for care. Focusing on opportunities to strengthen program integrity, improving managed care oversight, and going after improper payments ultimately makes Medicaid – and our fiscal health overall – healthier in the long-run. Lawmakers are right to expand the Medicaid Recovery Audit (RAC) program which takes a commonsense step toward this goal, and we applaud it.”