Chairman Griffith Bill Featured in Energy & Commerce Committee Package to Combat Health Care Fraud

Today, the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce unveiled a package of policies that help combat fraudulent activities and protect public health programs that serve vital health care resources to patients. One of these policies, H.R. 10621 - the Medicaid Fraud Fighting and Taxpayer Protection Act, is sponsored by U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Chairman of the Committee's Subcommittee on Health. Chairman Griffith's bill targets Medicaid fraud by incentivizing States to take steps, such as implementing program integrity tools, that investigate fraud and protect federal health care programs. The incentive provided by Chairman Griffith's bill allows States to receive an increased portion of the federal dollars saved when States identify fraud. This saved money can then be used to support numerous State programs like those in Virginia.

Commenting on this package and his bill, Chairman Griffith issued the following statement:

"For too long, Medicaid fraud has cost American taxpayers and Medicaid beneficiaries. As a leader on this issue, I believe a tangible step is my bill to enhance incentives to States to ferret out fraud in Medicaid and receive an increased portion of the money saved when they find fraud.

"Through this kind of action, we can improve fraud identification efforts and prevent foreign criminal actors from stealing valuable benefits that belong to patients."

BACKGROUND

Earlier this year, Chairman Griffith helped launch and expand Energy and Commerce Committee investigations targeting nationwide Medicaid fraud.

Chairman Griffith is also a co-sponsor of H.R. 3887 - the SNAP Anti-Theft and Victim Compensation Act, to create new civil penalties for any person who knowingly accesses, uses or transfers SNAP benefits. Particularly important to recent events in our region, the bill also provides that States can use SNAP benefits to reimburse households whose benefits are stolen due to no fault of their own.

In 2024, as then-Chairman of the Oversight Subcommittee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman Griffith chaired a hearing on improper payments at CMS with a focus on fraud, waste and abuse.

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