DeSantis fraud crackdown drives nearly $1B spending plunge after providers billed impossible hours

What happened: Florida's Medicaid fraud crackdown helped drive a nearly $1 billion reduction in projected annual spending on behavioral therapy services, after investigators found providers billing for impossible hours. Key numbers: ABA spending projected at $3.86 billion, now expected at $2.88 billion in fiscal year 2026-27, a nearly $980 million reduction. Why it matters: Officials credit fraud enforcement, managed care and utilization management. The state says it aims to stop suspicious claims before payment, mirroring an HHS call to move away from pay-and-chase models.

Florida's Medicaid fraud crackdown helped drive a nearly $1 billion reduction in projected annual spending on behavioral therapy services, after investigators found providers billing for impossible hours.

Officials credit fraud enforcement, managed care and utilization management. The state says it aims to stop suspicious claims before payment, mirroring an HHS call to move away from pay-and-chase models.