Committee advances $1 million appropriation to investigate 'patient brokering' amid Access fraud findings
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Summary
Senator Warner said an Access fraud probe found billions lost and described 'patient brokering' of Native American patients; the committee voted to give SB 11‑14 a due‑pass recommendation to fund county attorney investigations.
Senator Warner told the Appropriations Committee that investigations into Access Medicaid fraud uncovered substantial improper outflows and examples of so‑called patient brokering: alleged instances when vulnerable Native American patients were transported to out‑of‑state facilities and left without treatment. To address the problem, SB 11‑14 would appropriate $1,000,000 to a county attorney's office (identified in committee discussion as Maricopa County Attorney) to investigate and oversee patient‑brokering cases statewide.
Committee members questioned the decision to designate a single county attorney to oversee investigations statewide; the sponsor explained the county attorney's office had offered capacity and that consolidating oversight avoids multiple appropriations. The committee moved SB 11‑14 with a recorded vote of nine ayes and one not voting.
Senator Warner framed the appropriation as part of a broader legislative response to fraud that affected behavioral‑health services, provider closures and loss of life in some cases. The committee forwarded the bill for further processing.
