HHS and CMS Defer $1 Billion in Medicaid Payments to California and Minnesota
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have deferred approximately $1 billion in federal Medicaid payments to California and Minnesota. This decision, under the direction of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, is part of a strategy to ensure compliance with federal Medicaid regulations. The deferrals are temporary, allowing both states to provide additional documentation for high-risk claims. California's deferrals focus on in-home care programs with rapid expenditure spikes, while Minnesota's involve 14 high-risk service areas with billing inconsistencies. 
