Elon Musk, the wealthiest man in the world, has been assigned by U.S. President Donald Trump to uncover Medicare and Medicaid fraud and inefficiencies in the government. In just a few days, Musk has gained remarkable influence over the 2.2 million federal employees and initiated a significant transformation of the government.
Musk’s team has been collaborating with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). They have been given access to CMS’s systems and technology. Additionally, CMS administers Medicare and Medicaid together are providing health insurance to over 140 million Americans.
Recent Investigations and Statements
According to the recent fraud investigation CMS has forwarded statements, such as:
“We are taking a thoughtful approach to see where there may be opportunities for more effective and efficient use of resources in line with meeting the goals of President Trump.”
The investigations also highlight that CMS has been frequently handling improper payments, which may result from fraud or abuse. Moreover, they also have occurred when a state, contractor, or provider failed to complete an administrative step.
Eyes into the Investigation
Under Musk’s leadership, DOGE is concentrating on evaluating expenses throughout the federal government. Its medicare investigation has secured access to systems across multiple agencies, including the Treasury Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
When questioned about DOGE’s access to CMS payment and contracting systems, White House representatives did not provide specific details. Additionally, they supported Musk and DOGE’s efforts, stating that they were carrying out Trump’s pledge to enhance accountability.
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The Wall Street Update
According to The Wall Street Journal, Elon Musk Doge representatives have accessed CMS’s payment and contracting systems. This week, they have been visiting the agency’s offices to assess the technology behind these systems and the financial transactions they process, aiming to detect fraud or waste. Additionally, they are evaluating CMS’s organizational structure and workforce.
Musk also recently posted regarding the Medicaid audit on social media platform X, which he owns:
“This is where the big money fraud is happening.”
In The End
The Medicaid fraud investigation is still ongoing. Significantly, DOGE’s efforts have raised serious questions about accessing to personal health information of Medicare or Medicaid enrollees. On Tuesday, the U.S. Treasury declared that Musk’s team had been given “read-only access” to its payment system codes. Moreover, it was clarified that this did not disrupt any government payments, including those for Social Security or Medicare. Visit Benefits by State for more insights.
