March 22, 2023 – Victims are told to sign papers to claim the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, the state Medicaid agency for low-income residents.
Under AHCCCS’ American Indian Health Program, health care providers can receive funding, including coverage for behavioral health services, the FBI said.
The FBI statement said, “Organizers are allegedly telling renters that they must change their identification (driver’s license, etc.) to Arizona in order to receive Arizona Medicaid benefits.”
Special Agent Antoinette Ferrari said the fraud is a federal crime against members of Indigenous communities.
“They are taken off reservations and exploited,” Ferrari said.
Ferrari also said state health officials should be diligent when reviewing documents for funding to better uncover possible fraud. AHCCCS officials did not respond to requests for comment.
Smith said the scam was intermittent in 2020 and picking up again in 2022, but it’s unclear how organized it really is. Smith did not characterize the number of cases.
The Navajo Police Department has also been investigating the situation, according to 12 News, investigating at least 60 cases in Tuba City through December.
“From our perspective, this is happening because people are greedy,” Smith said. The FBI is asking suspected victims to contact the agency for help.
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