The Minnesota Department of Human Services is appealing a decision by the Trump administration to withhold more than two billion dollars a year in Medicaid funding for the state.

The move was announced last week by Dr. Mehmet Oz. The former heart surgeon and longtime television host who now leads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, claims Minnesota has failed to adequately fight Medicaid fraud. State officials strongly dispute that.

Human Services Deputy Commissioner John Connolly says the allegations are not based on fact, and warns the funding cut would destabilize health care across Minnesota for more than 1.2 million medicaid members.

DHS says it has taken extensive anti-fraud steps since last fall, including provider audits, payment reviews, and program shutdowns.

The state has formally appealed the decision and a federal hearing is expected. Details and updates are posted on the Department of Human Services’ Medicaid program integrity webpage.

After seeing the longest government shutdown in US History end last November, there’s a chance that the US Government could once again shut down when the continuing resolution to fund the government expires on January 30. US Representative Angie Craig talks more about the potential of a shutdown, and what needs to happen in order to pass another funding bill. 

If the government were to shut down, some programs including SNAP would not be affected, as Congress has already approved full-year funding for the Department of Ag, which oversees the SNAP program.

Audio from the Red River Farm Network

It’s going to be a busy couple of days for the Red River Watershed Management Board, as they will be attending a couple of events over the next week. RRWMB Executive Director Rob Sip says they will be in Winnipeg today for a Conference with the Red River Basin Commission. 

Sip says they will also be in Moorhead next Tuesday for their RRWMB meeting, which is expected to be attended by a number of area legislators.

That was RRWMB Executive Director Rob Sip.

It’s going to be a busy week for the Red River Watershed Management Board, after they attended an event in Winnipeg last Wednesday, the RRWMB will hold another event in Moorhead tomorrow (Tuesday). Executive Director Rob Sip says he is expecting the Board’s meeting today to be attended by a number of area legislators.

That was RRWMB Executive Director Rob Sip.