{"id":2603191,"date":"2026-05-15T13:36:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T17:36:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/medicaid-fraud-for-arizona-health-services-plunge-after-crackdown\/"},"modified":"2026-05-15T13:38:38","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T17:38:38","slug":"medicaid-fraud-for-arizona-health-services-plunge-after-crackdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/medicaid-fraud-for-arizona-health-services-plunge-after-crackdown\/","title":{"rendered":"Medicaid fraud for Arizona health services plunge after crackdown"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmedicaid-fraud-for-arizona-health-services-plunge-after-crackdown%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2603191&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced that Medicaid fraud tied to teh state\u2019s American Indian Health Plan has dropped sharply after a three-year crackdown on fraudulent sober living homes and treatment providers. Starting in May 2023, Mayes and Gov. Katie Hobbs targeted fraud in the AHCCCS-funded program, alleging it was among the largest schemes in Arizona history. The attorney general\u2019s office says behavioral health code billing fell 92%, from about $3.1 billion to roughly $230 million.<\/p>\n<p>Mayes emphasized that the investigation and prosecutions are ongoing. The proclamation also came amid continued federal attention: the DOJ has identified Arizona as a focus state for health care fraud investigations, and CMS says it has increased oversight of newly enrolled Medicare hospice providers with higher fraud risk.<\/p>\n<p>In related developments, Mayes said nurse practitioner Rita Anagho was sentenced to 3.5 years after pleading guilty to fraudulent billing practices reportedly including services never provided and services billed for minors who allegedly received no care.Officials say Anagho, who operated TUSA integrated Clinic, was involved in a broader system reaching multiple <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cyberattack-targets-hospitals-shuts-down-emergency-rooms-in-5-states\/\" title=\"Hospitals hit by cyberattack, ERs closed in 5 states.\">behavioral health facilities<\/a>, some of which where suspended or terminated. Arizona officials also announced 140 indictments connected to the schemes, with about 100 cases still pending.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/arizona\/\">Arizona <\/a>Attorney General Kris Mayes on Thursday announced that <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/medicaid\/\">Medicaid <\/a>fraud plunged by sweeping margins in the state following a three-year crackdown on crime. <\/p>\n<p>In May 2023, Mayes and Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-AZ) began aggressively targeting <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/fraud\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"3188\">fraud<\/a> in the American Indian Health Plan, which is funded and administered by Arizona\u2019s Medicaid program, AHCCCS. Mayes said the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >inquiry targeted fraudulent sober living homes<\/a> and treatment providers, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/CarineWerner\/status\/2055057393961271695\">described <\/a>as one of the largest fraud schemes in Arizona history. Since the crackdown sparked, behavioral health code billing for the American Indian Health Plan <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AZAGMayes\/status\/2055067707767394665\">has dropped<\/a> by 92%, from $3.1 billion to roughly $230 million, according to the attorney general\u2019s office. <\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4569608\/114-house-democrats-vote-to-shield-scrutiny-cashless-bail-jurisdictions\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>114 House Democrats vote to shield cashless-bail jurisdictions from scrutiny<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4569608\/114-house-democrats-vote-to-shield-scrutiny-cashless-bail-jurisdictions\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>114 House Democrats vote to shield cashless-bail jurisdictions from scrutiny<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4568091\/lu-jianwang-convicted-chinese-spy-post-new-york-city\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DOJ wins conviction of man for leading Chinese spy post in New York City<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>\u201cFor the past three years, my office has made it a top priority to hunt down and prosecute the criminals who stole from Arizona\u2019s Medicaid program while exploiting some of our most vulnerable residents,\u201d Mayes said in a statement. \u201cWe are not done. We will continue to pursue individuals and entities that participated in this fraud.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Though officials say Arizona has made strides, the Trump administration has continued to target the state as prime territory for health fraud.\u00a0In April, the Justice Department <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/fraud-division-launches-west-coast-strike-force-target-health-care-fraud-schemes-across\">named Arizona<\/a> as one of several states being probed by the agency\u2019s \u201cWest Coast Strike Force,\u201d saying that fraud schemes uncovered thus far are worth over a billion dollars of taxpayer money. Earlier this month, the Centers for Medicare &#038; Medicaid Services <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cms.gov\/newsroom\/press-releases\/cms-announces-aggressive-nationwide-crackdown-fraud-six-month-hospice-home-health-agency-enrollment\">said Arizona<\/a> is one of the states it has heightened oversight over, due to \u201cnewly enrolled Medicare hospice providers \u2026 with elevated fraud risk.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mayes\u2019s announcement this week came as she announced the sentencing of nurse practitioner Rita Anagho, who prosecutors say was involved in fraudulent schemes that included billing for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/father-considers-lawsuit-against-gender-clinic-for-affirming-9-year-old-autistic-son-as-transgender-lesbian\/\" title=\"Father Considers Lawsuit Against Gender Clinic For Affirming 9-Year-Old Autistic Son As Transgender Lesbian\">behavioral health services<\/a> never rendered, and billing for services provided to minors who received no care. Officials said she was part of a system that often targeted Native Americans seeking rehabilitative care, who were housed in unlicensed and unregulated sober living homes across Arizona. <\/p>\n<p>Arizona officials on Thursday announced 140 indictments related to the schemes. Anagho operated TUSA Integrated Clinic and served as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/calif-gov-newsom-announces-4-7b-mental-health-plan\/\" title=\"Calif. Gov. Newsom announces .7B mental health plan\">behavioral health professional<\/a> for as many as 10 to 15 other behavioral health facilities, many of which have since been suspended or terminated, according to the state. <\/p>\n<p>Anagho was sentenced to 3.5\u00a0years in prison after pleading guilty. The nurse\u2019s case is one of around 140 cases tied to the scheme, with roughly 100 still moving through the legal system, according to Mayes\u2019s office, which condemned Anagho for being part of a ploy to \u201cexploit vulnerable Native Americans struggling with addiction who sought help and were instead trafficked for financial gain.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4537346\/former-presidents-unite-hopeful-message-america-250\/\"><strong>FOUR FORMER PRESIDENTS UNITE WITH HOPEFUL MESSAGE AHEAD OF AMERICA 250<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis was a systematic pattern of fraudulent billing,\u201d Mayes said. \u201cThis fraud was allowed to metastasize largely because the people in charge prior to 2023 were asleep at the wheel, and we have the stats to prove it. \u2026 I know that no number of indictments or convictions or amount paid back in restitution can undo the pain and heartbreak and suffering caused by this scandal. But please know that we have heard your stories, and we have seen the damage that has been done.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>reached out to the Centers for Medicare &#038; Medicaid Services for comment. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Arizona\u2019s Medicaid fraud plummeted after a three-year crackdown<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3142,"featured_media":2603192,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26078064923847.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[4472,5804,59156,79746,61924],"class_list":["post-2603191","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-arizona","tag-crackdown","tag-healthcare-compliance","tag-healthcare-enforcement","tag-medicaid-fraud"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26078064923847.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2603191","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2603191"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2603191\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2603195,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2603191\/revisions\/2603195"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2603192"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2603191"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2603191"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2603191"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}