Little Rock, Arkansas – Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin has joined a group of state attorneys general calling on Congress to approve new legislation aimed at strengthening efforts to combat fraud within the Medicaid program.
Griffin announced Tuesday that he signed a letter with 16 other attorneys general urging lawmakers to pass the STOP FRAUD in Medicaid Act. The letter argues that changes are needed to give state Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MCFUs) additional authority to investigate certain types of suspected fraud.
According to Griffin, current law limits the authority of his office’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit to investigating Medicaid providers, while preventing investigations involving Medicaid recipients. He said the proposed legislation would help address that limitation and provide officials with additional tools to protect taxpayer-funded healthcare programs.
The Arkansas Attorney General said his office’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit has already recovered significant funds through its investigations. In fiscal year 2025, Griffin said the unit recovered nearly $2 billion.
The letter was led by South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson and included signatures from attorneys general across the country. Along with Griffin, officials from Alaska, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and West Virginia also signed the request for congressional action.
The attorneys general said improving fraud prevention and enforcement efforts is important to ensuring Medicaid resources are used properly and remain available for those who depend on the program.
The STOP FRAUD in Medicaid Act is intended to expand the ability of state officials to investigate potential misuse of Medicaid benefits. Supporters of the legislation say stronger enforcement tools could help identify fraudulent activity more effectively and reduce losses within the program.
Griffin and the other attorneys general are asking Congress to consider the legislation as part of broader efforts to protect public funds and strengthen oversight of Medicaid.
A copy of the letter signed by the attorneys general has been made available online.
