Dr. Mehmet Oz discussed what he described as widespread Medicaid fraud during an exchange with Katie Miller, estimating the total at $100 billion and pointing to specific regional patterns he believes indicate organized criminal activity.
Miller began by asking, “How big do you estimate the Medicaid fraud to be?”
Dr. Oz responded, “100 billion dollars. $100 billion.”
He said those funds should instead be directed toward strengthening the Medicare system and improving care.
“that money should go back to making the Medicare Trust Fund solvent for many years,” Dr. Oz said.
“It should go back to providing adequate, high quality services for mental health conditions. It should allow us to take better care of people in rural parts of the country, underserved parts of the country.”
Dr. Oz then cited data he said raised red flags, particularly in California.
“but we look at numbers now, like in Southern California, where you have a seven fold increase in hospice, doesn’t make any sense,” he said. “I think 30% of hospice in the entire country must be down there.”
He said he contacted California Gov. Gavin Newsom regarding home health care spending.
“I sent a letter to my our good friend, Governor Newsom, concerned about the massive increase in home health care in California,” Dr. Oz said, “where, literally, one in $10 spent in the entire country in home health care is in LA, not California. La, it should be a third of that.”
Dr. Oz said he believes these trends reflect coordinated efforts rather than isolated incidents.
“And I went after it because I know this is the same organized criminal efforts,” he said.
“By the way. These are not accidents. These are often foreign nationals.”
He referenced specific examples.
“You got Russians in California who fled back to Russia when they got indicted,” Dr. Oz said.
“We have Cuban run strings with you. Believe the Cuban government’s involved in with durable medical equipment. That’s the people sell you wheelchairs and canes.”
Dr. Oz then described what he characterized as disproportionate provider numbers in Florida.
“This is this that’s gonna blow your mind,” he said.
“There are 20 times more durable medical equipment providers in South Florida than McDonald’s.”
He added, “You need 20 times more wheelchairs than burgers. It’s just bizarre.”
Dr. Oz argued that similar patterns exist elsewhere.
“I mean, how could you and you have to, again, almost not be looking,” he said.
“We have more personal care services in New York. I mentioned the retail. I mean, this is way beyond what you’d imagine.”
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