Midwest
Dr. Oz warns Walz to address alleged Somali Medicaid fraud or lose federal funding: ‘We’ll stop paying’
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Mehmet Oz on Friday warned Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz the state could lose federal Medicaid funding unless it restores “the integrity” of its program.
In a post on X, Dr. Oz claimed more than $1 billion had been stolen through a massive Medicaid fraud scheme carried out by “bad actors” within Minnesota’s Somali community, alleging some of the funds “may have even made its way to the Somalian terrorist group (al-Shabab).”
“Our staff at CMS told me they’ve never seen anything like this in Medicaid — and everyone from Gov. Tim Walz on down needs to be investigated, because they’ve been asleep at the wheel,” Oz said.
COMER TARGETS WALZ IN NEW HOUSE INVESTIGATION, CITING NEARLY $1B IN ALLEGED MINNESOTA FRAUD
Oz claimed that more than $1 billion was stolen through a massive Medicaid fraud scheme carried out by “bad actors” within Minnesota’s Somali community. (@DrOzCMS via X)
Oz demanded Walz take the following corrective measures within 60 days:
- Send weekly updates on anti-fraud efforts to CMS
- Freeze enrollment of high-risk providers for six months
- Verify all current providers as “legitimate” or remove them
- Send CMS a corrective action plan to prevent fraud in the future
“If we’re unsatisfied with the state’s plans or cooperation, we’ll stop paying the federal share of these programs,” Oz warned.
The CMS administrator pointed to two Minnesota Medicaid programs launched in recent years, noting dramatic spikes in costs.
The Housing Stabilization Services program, projected at $2.6 million annually, paid out over $100 million in 2024, according to Oz.
The Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention program grew from $3 million in 2018 to nearly $400 million in 2023, he said.
WALZ ‘DERELICT LEADERSHIP’ TO BLAME IN $1B FRAUD SCANDAL WITH ‘HAUNTING REMINDS OF WATERGATE’: GOP CHALLENGER
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is demanding Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz address an alleged Medicare fraud scheme carried out by “bad actors” within the state’s Somali community. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
“These scammers used stolen taxpayer money to buy flashy cars, purchase overseas real estate and offer kickbacks to parents who enrolled their kids at fake autism treatment centers,” Oz said. “Some of it may have even made its way to the Somalian terrorist group al-Shabab. … So why didn’t Walz stop them? That’s simple: because he went all-in on identity politics.”
Minnesota officials previously reported the problem to CMS but failed to address it effectively, according to Oz.
“We stepped in and shut down the worst program: housing. We also froze provider enrollment in a few of the most abused programs,” Oz said.
PHOTOS EMERGE OF SOMALI ILLEGAL’S TIES TO TOP MINNESOTA DEMS AFTER ICE ARREST
President Donald Trump recently announced a flurry of actions to investigate alleged fraud schemes in Minnesota. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo)
“The message to Walz is clear: either fix this in 60 days or start looking under your couch for spare change, because we’re done footing the bill for your incompetence.”
President Donald Trump recently announced a flurry of actions to crack down and investigate fraud schemes in Minnesota, which he has assailed as a “hub of money laundering activity,” and cited it as the basis of his decision to terminate deportation protections for hundreds of Somali migrants.
This week, senior Trump administration officials announced fresh investigations, including a new Treasury Department probe into how taxpayer dollars were allegedly diverted to the terrorist organization al-Shabab, according to Secretary Scott Bessent.
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Walz’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Breanne Deppisch contributed to this report.
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Detroit, MI
Strong storms leave trail of damage across Metro Detroit — cleanup could take weeks
MONROE COUNTY, Mich. – Strong storms swept through parts of Metro Detroit Saturday evening, downing trees, toppling power lines and damaging property across Monroe and Wayne counties.
Matt Rose, owner of Rose Tree Service in Monroe County, and his crew hit the ground running to help with the recovery effort.
“Probably about 5:30 in the afternoon the wind started picking up and all you heard was tornado sirens,” Rose said.
The storms didn’t last long — but the damage they left behind tells a different story.
“Within 20 minutes I’d say. It did a lot of damage in 20 minutes,” Rose said.
The storms left behind splintered trees, downed wires and ripped at least one barn to shreds.
Rob Salenbien of Van Buren Township watched the storm destroy what he described as his family’s entertainment space — right before a major family milestone.
“It’s our entertainment place,” Salenbien said. “We were just hosting my family, my mom and dad is inside – their 60th wedding anniversary is coming up on April 30th, we were going to have a party here on May 3rd.”
Salenbien and his family say they are thankful no one was hurt.
As for the cleanup, Rose says crews are still working to finish up damage left by a previous storm — and now they have even more on their hands. He estimates the cleanup from this latest round of storms could take weeks.
“We were still finishing up the last storm of trees broken on houses and stuff like that,” Rose said.
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Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee Police are seeking a critically missing woman 68-year-old woman
MILWAUKEE— Milwaukee Police are asking for help finding a critically missing woman.
Authorities say 68-year-old Marguerite Richmond was last seen this morning around 8:00 a.m. near 66th and Ruby Avenue.
She’s described as a Black female, 5-foot-4, about 117 pounds, with brown eyes and short gray hair styled in two braids.
Police say she was last seen wearing a black coat, purple pajamas, and black slippers.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the Milwaukee Police Department’s Seventh District at 414-935-7272.
Minneapolis, MN
17-year-old injured in Minneapolis shooting
Minneapolis police are investigating after a 17-year-old boy was shot in a parking lot on Hennepin Avenue East on Friday night.
According to the police, the incident occurred at the 2400 block of Hennepin Avenue East around 11:39 p.m. when multiple shots were fired, possibly from a vehicle.
When officers arrived, they found the boy had at least one non-life-threatening gunshot wound. Officers provided the boy with aid until he could be transported to the hospital.
At this time, no arrests have been made.
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