Office of Inspector General Coordinating Council established to combat fraud

DULUTH, Minn.– The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is putting more resources toward preventing fraud across state, instead of being reactive.

In September, the Office of Inspector General Council was formed by an Executive order from Governor Tim Walz.

The announcement comes during a time the federal government is sounding the alarm on fraud they believe is roughly $9 billion in Minnesota.

Officials with the BCA said, that investigation is separate from the agency’s newest efforts to fight fraud.

Superintendent Drew Evans with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said, the formation of the council follows nearly 200 reports of fraud received by the BCA just last year.

Evans said, they mostly relate to Medicaid.

And the current solution is a combined effort with major state agencies.

“This Coordinating Council is not designed as an oversight body of any of the existing state inspector generals that exist in organizations like the Minnesota Department of Education, that Department of Children, Youth and Families and the Department of Human Services, but rather it’s collectively bringing together the expertise of various agencies that are working to combat fraud,” said Drew Evans, Superintendent with Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Evans said, most of the work with the OIG will be overseeing legal guidance and enforcement to prevent fraud in areas dealing with large amounts of public money.

He said the goal is to prevent fraud before it happens, rather than reacting after the fact, while protecting taxpayer dollars.

Minnesota Department of Human Services officials said the evidence they have has shown “tens of millions of dollars” in fraud in Medicaid‑related benefits

One Inspector General said he’s ready to embrace change.

“I’m willing to partner with anyone that is serious about stopping fraud. I want to collaborate with elected officials, collaborate with law enforcement to stop criminals. This stuff makes me angry. It should make us all angry. So, if there are evidence or tips about possible fraud, DHS should be given that information so that we can slam the door shut on people and businesses that are trying to defraud us,” said James Clark, Inspector General with Minnesota Department of Human Services.