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HHS Medicaid payment deferrals to California and Minnesota

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DevelopingNext check : Any response from CMS or the states, and whether the payment deferrals are lifted or resolved.

Where it stands

HHS and CMS deferred more than $1 billion in Medicaid payments to California and Minnesota, citing suspected fraud, rapid growth in in-home care spending and billing anomalies. California says the spending reflects efforts to keep people out of nursing homes, while Minnesota says CMS has not shared the data behind its calculation; the states’ dispute with the federal government over the withheld funds remains unresolved.

Story trackerDay 1

1 report11 outlets11 sources1 video

The story so far

  1. Update 1

    HHS Freezes $1 Billion in Medicaid Funds to California and Minnesota, Citing Suspected Fraud

    Two Democratic-led states face payment deferrals over in-home care billing. Both governors say the administration has not shown its work.

    Still open after this report

    • Specific instances of fraud, waste or abuse that triggered either deferral — neither state's reporting names any.
    • Whether the deferred funds will be released, partially released, or converted into a permanent reduction after CMS reviews the requested documentation.

History

  1. Opened1 report

Who's involved

People

  • Gavin Newsom40th governor of California since 20191 report
  • Mehmet ÖzTurkish-American surgeon, TV host, and government official (born 1960)1 report
  • Robert F. Kennedy Jr.26th United States Secretary of Health and Human Services since 20251 report
  • Tim WalzAmerican politician (born 1964)1 report

Places

  • CaliforniaCalifornia, USA1 report
  • Hubert H. Humphrey BuildingHubert H. Humphrey Building, Washington, DC 20201, USA1 report
  • MinnesotaMinnesota, USA1 report

Every outlet we read on this story

11 sources11 outlets1 video