GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Ramaswamy Calls for Medicaid Overhaul Amid Fraud Claims
Vivek Ramaswamy targets fellow Republicans over Medicaid oversight while announcing fraud prevention plans at Columbus event.
COLUMBUS, OHIO — Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy announced plans to overhaul Ohio’s Medicaid system to combat what he describes as widespread fraud, while criticizing Governor Mike DeWine’s oversight efforts during a downtown Columbus hotel appearance Tuesday.
Speaking alongside his running mate, Ohio Senate President Rob McColley, R-Napoleon, Ramaswamy outlined his administration’s approach to addressing alleged abuse of public funds in the state’s healthcare program.
“When you have criminals, fraudsters, thieves claiming money for themselves, it diverts money away from those for whom these programs were intended, and that’s a problem,” Ramaswamy said.
Claims Follow Conservative Media Report
The candidate’s announcement came after The Daily Wire published allegations of rampant fraud within Ohio’s Medicaid system. Ramaswamy has made combating these unproven claims a centerpiece of his campaign platform.
“Our state of Ohio does not yet have the full aligned incentive to make the prosecution of Medicaid fraud a top priority, as it will be for my administration,” Ramaswamy said.
Legislative leaders have specifically targeted home healthcare providers paid through Medicaid, claiming these providers are not fulfilling their contracted services.
“We need leadership in place to make sure that we are taking this issue seriously,” McColley said during the press conference.
DeWine Administration Defends Record
Governor DeWine and his cabinet have faced repeated accusations from fellow Republicans about inadequate fraud investigation efforts. The governor has disputed claims of widespread systemic problems while highlighting his administration’s enforcement record.
DeWine reported nearly 1,100 Medicaid fraud convictions since taking office in 2019. His spokesperson Dan Tierney defended the governor’s long-standing commitment to fighting fraud.
“I understand that there may be some people around Ohio who are just learning that there is Medicaid fraud that there needs to be consistent work to fight against,” Tierney said in an interview. “Mike DeWine has never been one of them. He’s been fighting Medicaid fraud consistently since he took office as attorney general in 2011 and has continued doing so as governor.”
Recent Administrative Actions
Days before The Daily Wire article’s publication, DeWine sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requesting partnership with the Trump Administration to implement more stringent revalidation processes for healthcare providers.
This week, the governor issued an executive order introducing new fraud prevention tools, including requirements for high-risk providers to revalidate their enrollment more frequently.
According to state data, DeWine’s efforts since 2011 have resulted in 2,378 Medicaid fraud indictments and 2,216 convictions. The state reports recovering $645 million through these enforcement actions.
House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn, D-Cincinnati, questioned the fraud allegations’ foundation, stating “There has been no real evidence (of fraud).”
