Health secretary says Florida targeted by Biden administration

A top health care official in Florida is accusing the Biden administration of "targeting" the state for Medicaid audits as a political jab against Florida Gov. Ron Desantis.

Jason Weida, secretary of Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration, pointed to emails obtained by Wyoming nonprofit Government Accountability & Oversight that he says show the federal government singled out three red states – Florida, Texas, and Missouri – for audits over alleged misuse of Medicaid funds.

“For the past three years the Biden administration has targeted Florida at every opportunity, and these emails make it abundantly clear – they are afraid of Gov. DeSantis," Weida said in a statement. "Auditing our rule changes is only the tip of the iceberg. We have seen Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services intentionally craft FAQs, send letters, and make rule clarifications that intentionally target how Florida runs its fiscally conservative programs. The constant federal interference creates a chilling effect that is designed to prevent other states from following Florida’s lead.”

Increased federal scrutiny of Florida’s Medicaid program started just as DeSantis was emerging as a possible presidential candidate in 2024, preparing to enter the 2024 presidential race, Government Accountability & Oversight attorney Chris Horner told The National Review.

The audits were focused on states with Republican leadership and centered on how those states policed their Medicaid programs, the National Review reported. Several blue states, such as California, had similar polices but were not audited, Government Accountability & Oversight said.

“CMS is focusing on ‘red states” – ones that have been particular thorns in the Biden administration’s side, no less: Florida (surprise!), Missouri, and Texas—while neglecting to apply the same standards to blue states,” the organization said.

The audits of Florida and Texas are incomplete, and the states have challenged the efforts in court, The National Review reported.

CMS did not respond to a request for comment before publication.