A new state audit has found that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s administration failed for years to properly investigate Medicaid kickback allegations, despite having the authority to do so.
The findings raise serious questions about oversight within the state’s Department of Human Services (DHS) amid a massive fraud scandal tied to autism services funding.
The report, released Tuesday by the Office of the Legislative Auditor, concluded that DHS officials incorrectly claimed they lacked the authority to investigate kickbacks unless they were tied to other forms of fraud.
According to the audit, that interpretation was wrong and contradicted long-standing legal authority held by the agency.
