DHS presents anti‑fraud package, telehealth extension and health‑care savings proposals to committee

Commissioner Jody Harpstead and DHS officials presented a suite of proposals to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Jan. 28 focused on program integrity, targeted investments and a set of health‑care cost containment and technical changes.

“This budget provides additional tools and statute changes to strengthen our abilities,” Commissioner Jody Harpstead told the committee, introducing the department’s “anti‑fraud” package and related proposals. DHS said the agency’s Office of Inspector General has conducted thousands of investigations and that Medicaid spending growth has outpaced the department’s staffing increases.

Major DHS proposals discussed included:

- Program‑integrity and anti‑fraud measures: DHS proposed increased staffing for oversight, provider eligibility, internal audit and investigations; new data‑sharing authority across state agencies; authority to suspend licenses if a controlling individual is criminally…