Friends and neighbors,
This week, Governor Walz announced that Jodi Harpstead, his Commissioner of Health and Human Services, is stepping down.
While the Governor of course painted her tenure in glowing terms, it’s hard to ignore the fraud that has run rampant in her agency and the Walz administration during her time in office.
Consider these other recent reports. The sheer volume is staggering.
- Just last week, charges were filed for $7.3 million in Medicaid fraud for a PCA being run by a convicted felon, with a partner running the billing services while on work release from a jail sentence.
- In December, the FBI raided two autism centers that received human services grants to help students with autism needs, and reports indicate more than two dozen autism centers are being investigated.
- The nonpartisan Office of the Legislative Auditor also dinged the agency for failing to recover $40 million in Medicaid overpayments.
- This fall, reporting on a multi-year investigation into falsified medical transportation and services records showed more than $10 million was lost to fraudsters through several elaborate schemes.
- And investigative reporting from media showed addiction and recovery services centers took advantage of lax oversight from Human Services to bilk the taxpayers of millions of dollars. Even after complaints were investigated, the money still flowed.
These examples barely scratch the surface.
Remember: Every penny of fraud is a penny meant to help vulnerable Minnesotans — families, children, and those in need. Instead, it has been squandered and stolen under weak oversight and nonexistent accountability.
Commissioner Harpstead’s resignation should be a turning point. It’s time for Governor Walz to show he is serious by taking real action on the fraud problem. The next commissioner must prioritize accountability, serious investigations, transparency, and the protection of your tax dollars.
This isn’t just a DHS problem either. Fraud and mismanagement have plagued the entire Walz administration. From the Feeding Our Future scandal to the chaos in the new Cannabis Office, it’s clear we need more oversight, not less.
I’ll keep pushing to address waste, fraud, and abuse in our government. If you have feedback or ideas, I would love to hear them. Please reach out any time.
God Bless,