Gov. Joe Lombardo on Thursday applauded the creation of a new federal task force to combat Medicaid provider fraud and talked about steps being taken at the state level.
Lombardo outlined the state’s efforts to fight fraud, waste, and abuse, including the creation of the Nevada’s first Medicaid Inspector General within the Nevada Health Authority.
His statement came in response to a recent letter from Dr. Mehmet Oz, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). That letter went out to all 50 governors, urging states to take “swift action” to ensure that only legitimate, qualified providers are receiving public funds through Medicaid.
“Nevada stands strong with our federal partners and is committed to taking all actions necessary to crack down on Medicaid provider fraud,” Lombardo said.
“These perpetrators are a scourge on our healthcare system and drain valuable resources from Nevadans who need them most. We do not tolerate fraud in any form and will ensure Medicaid dollars are going to legitimate providers serving our citizens,” he said.
Lombardo’s letter to Oz is below.
Dr. Oz Response Letter Medicaid_May2026Download
Nevada Medicaid will submit a comprehensive two-year plan to CMS, outlining how Nevada will comply with the recent federal request to strengthen revalidation process with enrolled providers.
A recent case in Northern Nevada highlighted how providers have eluded enforcement through the years. Two residents of a community north of Reno were indicted in separate 70-count indictments alleging fraudulent claims exceeding $2 million.
On April 30, the federal government announced a new task force to prosecute health care fraud in Nevada, Arizona and Northern California.
“As technology advances, so does the sophistication of bad actors in Medicaid, requiring us to remain vigilant in our approach to fraud,” Stacie Weeks, director of Nevada Health Authority, said.
“We have had to modernize our systems with new software and AI solutions for data analytics, which allows us to identify suspicious claims and fraudulent patterns before payments go out the door, saving millions in taxpayer dollars,” Weeks said.
The new Medicaid Inspector General’s office has elevated program integrity efforts in Nevada Medicaid by prioritizing independent oversight of Medicaid spending, deploying AI and new fraud detection technology, and biometrics for verifying provider identities, according to the governor’s office.
The Nevada Health Authority has created several task forces with licensing units across its program to address the growing threat of fraud in Nevada Medicaid.