Tester Calls for Immediate Assistance, Investigation into Montana Tribal Members Targeted by Medicaid Fraud

Senator to CMS: “If true, victims need to receive immediate assistance and the perpetrators should be held accountable for this disgusting abuse of taxpayer dollars”

Following reports that Montana Tribal members were deliberately targeted by an ongoing Medicaid fraud scheme in the state of Arizona, U.S. Senator Jon Tester sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) pressing for an immediate investigation and requesting immediate assistance for victims of this deceitful scam. 

“I write today with deep concern over the recent reports of Tribal members in Montana being targeted by the ongoing Medicaid fraud in the state of Arizona,” wrote Tester in his letter to CMS Administrator Brooks-LaSure. “If true, victims need to receive immediate assistance and the perpetrators should be held accountable for this disgusting abuse of taxpayer dollars.”

According to Arizona officials, a widespread Medicaid scam involving unlawful billing by fraudulent mental health treatment and addiction rehabilitation centers targeted Tribal members, including individuals from Montana. Tester asked CMS to immediately investigate this matter and provide a detailed report of the agency’s findings: “Given the astounding negligence and its impact on vulnerable communities, I ask CMS to immediately investigate this matter further and provide a detailed report of their findings, including the scale of this fraud and what measures the agencies have taken to prevent this fraud from recurring and causing further harm to Tribal citizens.” 

Additionally, Tester pressed the agency to prioritize efforts to assist Montana Tribal members impacted by this scam: “I urge the agency to place a high priority on assisting the victims of these scams, particularly Montana’s Tribal members who have been left stranded in Arizona with no means to return home. It is of the utmost importance that these Tribal members are able to regain their safety and security, and return home so they can receive proper treatment.”

Read the Senator’s full letter to CMS Administrator Brooks-LaSure HERE.