Governor Kim Reynolds today signed Executive Order 20, establishing the Iowa Medicaid Fraud Elimination Task Force to eradicate Medicaid fraud, waste, and abuse, ensuring funds are used to support eligible Iowans. Attorney General Brenna Bird has been appointed to chair the new task force.
"Safeguarding federal programs like Medicaid from bad actors requires accountability at every point in the process, from member eligibility verification to provider enrollment and billing," said Governor Kim Reynolds. She added that eliminating fraud will "protect taxpayer dollars, strengthen public trust, and ensure these critical benefits remain available to the Iowans who not only qualify for them, but rely on them for their health and well-being."
Attorney General Brenna Bird emphasized the impact of fraud, saying, "Every time someone commits Medicaid fraud, they are taking funds away from programs that help people who desperately need them." She expressed gratitude for Governor Reynolds' commitment to addressing the issue.
Other members of the task force will include key state officials such as the Principal Deputy Director of the Department of Health and Human Services, Director of Iowa Medicaid, and Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, along with representatives from Wellpoint Iowa, Iowa Total Care, and Molina Healthcare of Iowa.
Its focus areas include strengthening alignment with federal program integrity initiatives, promoting fraud reporting, investing in program integrity technology, and enhancing methods for the public to report suspected fraud. The task force is mandated to hold its first meeting by July 17, 2026, and submit a final report with recommendations within 120 days.