Des Moines Sun

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley has expressed approval of a recent initiative by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) aimed at eliminating duplicative enrollments in government health programs. This move is projected to save taxpayers approximately $14 billion annually.

According to CMS, in 2024, an average of 1.2 million Americans were enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP across multiple states each month. Additionally, around 1.6 million individuals were simultaneously enrolled in both Medicaid/CHIP and a subsidized Exchange plan monthly.

Senator Grassley commented on the issue, stating, “I’m glad to see CMS crack down on the billions in waste, fraud and abuse that I’ve long been calling out. It’s unacceptable that taxpayers have continued to foot the bill for this expensive fraud. CMS’s actions build on Republicans’ successful work in the One Big Beautiful Bill to enact critical measures to strengthen health care, all while curbing fraud.”

Earlier this month, Grassley urged CMS to investigate Obamacare fraud after receiving information corroborating independent reports of widespread fraud. Last year, he sought answers from Biden administration leaders about their efforts to eliminate waste and abuse within the ACA marketplace.

During Dr. Mehmet Oz's confirmation hearing, Grassley raised concerns about improper payments and emphasized the need for CMS to provide timely responses to congressional oversight.