Gov. Katie Hobbs would consider sharing data with federal government to fight healthcare fraud

After Arizona Republican lawmakers called on Gov. Katie Hobbs to enter into a data-sharing partnership with the federal government to help fight healthcare fraud, a spokesman for the Democrat said she doesn’t oppose the idea.

“The administration would consider joining the data-sharing agreement,” Christian Slater, Hobbs’ communications director, told KTAR News 92.3 FM in a statement Monday.

The U.S. Department of Justice’s National Fraud Enforcement Division recently announced it had entered into voluntary data-sharing agreements with state agencies in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina.

Those states, all of which have Republican governors, are sharing publicly available information with the Justice Department in an effort to identify and stop fraud within Medicaid and other public benefit programs.

Republican leaders push Hobbs to share data with federal government

On Monday, Republican leaders in the Arizona House urged Hobbs to enter into a similar partnership.

“Six states have already signed up to help catch the criminals stealing from taxpayers and from the people these programs are supposed to serve. There is no good reason Arizona should not be next, and no good reason for Gov. Hobbs to wait,” House Majority Leader Michael Carbone said in a statement.

While Hobbs didn’t reject the Republican request, Slater said fighting healthcare fraud is a priority for the governor regardless of how it’s done.

“Gov. Hobbs doesn’t need the federal government to tell her to fight fraud — she’s been a national leader in battling Medicaid fraud since day one of her administration,” Slater said. “Gov. Hobbs stopped the multibillion-dollar behavioral health fraud schemes which had festered under her predecessor and worked with law enforcement, including Attorney General [Kris] Mayes and the federal government, to hold the perpetrators accountable.”

Healthcare fraud has been a significant concern in Arizona

Federal prosecutors have called Arizona one of the riskiest states in the nation for healthcare fraud.

“We have seen billions lost to sober living scams and phantom behavioral health clinics right here in our state. … Joining this data-sharing partnership is a commonsense step that can help investigators catch fraud before it grows into another multibillion-dollar scandal,” state Rep. Selina Bliss, chairman of the House Health and Human Services Committee, said in a statement.

Last month, Arizona’s Medicaid system started using an artificial intelligence tool to detect potential healthcare fraud.

“The Hobbs administration will continue working with the federal government and law enforcement at the local, state and federal level to crack down on fraud wherever it’s found and ensure taxpayer dollars are always used for their highest and best purpose,” Slater said.

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