Committee advances expansion of Medicaid fraud unit powers, staffing in MAP Act

House File 2,354, described by proponents as the MAP Act, passed the Human Services Finance and Policy Committee for referral to Public Safety Finance and Policy. The bill would expand subpoena authority for the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, align penalties for medical assistance fraud with other theft statutes, and fund additional unit positions recommended by the federal Office of Inspector General.

Nick Wonka, director of Minnesota’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, told the committee the unit has won substantial recoveries — he cited about $53 million recovered over five years — and that federal grant rules require separation between investigators and the administering agency. Wonka asked for staffing to match a federal recommendation: an increase from 32 to 41 positions, largely funded by the federal grant so the net state appropriation would be smaller than the full headcount change.

Nut graf: Supporters argued expanding tools and staff will increase program integrity for Medicaid, the largest funding stream administered by DHS. Opponents asked for clearer statutory language in places to protect due process and to avoid overly broad authority.

The Community Provider Alliance supported the bill’s goal but asked for more precise drafting in section 3 (lines cited in testimony) to avoid unintended due‑process or enforcement overreach. Musaad Kalief (Community Provider Alliance) said the alliance supports the objective but requested clearer language so laws are “objectively applied.”

The author highlighted the federal match (about 3:1) and recovery record and asked the committee for support; the committee approved referral to Public Safety, Finance and Policy by voice vote.

Ending: Sponsors and unit leadership said they will work with stakeholders on statutory language and implementation details as the bill moves to Public Safety.