James Uthmeier establishes new Task Force to root out Medicaid fraud, other pilfering of public funds

Attorney General James Uthmeier is launching a new task force to crack down on individuals seeking to bilk the state out of funds designed to help vulnerable residents.

Uthmeier announced the Task Force on Public Assistance Fraud during a news conference in Tampa. The Attorney General said his Office and other agencies are working together on the project to protect Medicaid and other programs.

“Potentially billions of dollars are going out and falling into the wrong hands,” Uthmeier said in Tampa. “They’re not just stealing from the government. They’re stealing from you. They’re stealing from the taxpayers.”

Uthmeier was flanked by representatives from several other agencies, including the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and other partners in the Task Force.

“We are going to step up and kick it into a higher gear as we work to get back at fraudsters,” Uthmeier said.

Officials referenced high-profile coverage in the past year over alleged Medicaid fraud in Minnesota, where Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has already charged several people in a scheme to defraud the government of $11 million.

AHCA Secretary Shevaun Harris said she is convinced the Task Force will help Florida will avoid the embarrassing scandals as seen in Minnesota.

“Throughout the country, Medicaid programs are being tested by sophisticated schemes, which are not only deceptive, but are highly coordinated, adaptive and, unfortunately in some instances, successful,” Harris said.

For Uthmeier, the Task Force is the latest in a plethora of organizations he has established since he was appointed Attorney General in early 2025.

Just last week, Uthmeier launched the Cold Case Task Force to look into unsolved crimes in Florida dating back to the 1960s. In November, Uthmeier rolled out the Retail Theft Task Force in hopes of driving down crime at stores in the state.