Staff Reports
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has accused his predecessor, Xavier Becerra, of leaving the department “wide open” to fraud by gutting the team that polices Medicare and Medicaid payments. Kennedy says staff assigned to program integrity were cut from about 80 to six, and that the department relied on a “pay‑and‑chase” approach — pay suspicious bills first, try to recover money later. Those claims blew up in hearings and at White House anti‑fraud events, and they deserve a straight answer.
Kennedy’s charge: staffing cuts and “pay‑and‑chase”
At recent congressional testimony, Secretary Kennedy made a blunt claim: HHS had only 80 people watching trillions in payments, and most were reassigned so that only six remained doing program integrity work. He said that was an “invitation for the fraudsters to come in and steal everything.” Kennedy also named hospice schemes, durable medical equipment fraud, and bogus autism services as problems that grew under the prior approach. He labeled the old method “pay‑and‑chase” and contrasted it with the current administration’s push to detect fraud early and cut off bad actors.
What the record shows — and what still needs fixing
There is proof that fraud is a huge problem. The Justice Department’s 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown charged hundreds and alleged billions in false claims. CMS has imposed moratoria and paused enrollments for hospice and home‑health providers while it investigates. Those moves back up Kennedy’s claim that fraud is widespread. But there’s also nuance: GAO and CMS records suggest the program‑integrity workforce has shifted over time, and the simple “80 to 6” number may refer to a narrow unit or to reassignments rather than full deletions. That technicality matters — but it doesn’t erase the fact that enforcement activity rose and that patients and taxpayers are paying the price.
Why this matters for taxpayers and patients
When oversight is weak, fraud grows fast. Medicare and Medicaid pay out trillions, and even small gaps become big losses. Fake hospices and sham equipment providers do real harm, draining money from care and clogging the system. If Becerra’s team did rely on pay‑and‑chase, that’s not just sloppy — it’s costly. Republicans and Democrats should both want strong, smart enforcement that protects patients and stops scammers before they bill millions for nothing.
Accountability, not theater — next steps
Secretary Kennedy raised important questions. The public and Congress should get clear answers: show the staffing records, the reassignments, and memos that explain the old policy. Let DOJ and CMS show their data on suspensions and takedowns. If mistakes were made, fix them. If fraudsters slipped through because of policy choices, hold the decision‑makers to account. We can mock Washington all we like, but this is about real money and real care. The taxpayers deserve vigilance — not “pay‑and‑chase” as a strategy.
