Republican Ohio gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy said he would “aggressively prosecute” Medicaid fraud after a Daily Wire investigation alleged widespread abuse inside Ohio’s taxpayer-funded home healthcare system.
Reacting to the report in a post on X, Ramaswamy said Ohio had “turned a blind eye” to fraud for too long and pledged tougher enforcement if elected governor later this year. His comments came after the conservative outlet published a lengthy investigation examining hundreds of Medicaid-funded home healthcare companies operating in the Columbus area.
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“The issue isn’t bilking the government,” Ramaswamy wrote. “It’s bilking the taxpayer.” He also argued that Ohio’s current Medicaid funding structure weakens oversight because much of the financial burden is shared with the federal government.
The Daily Wire investigation alleged that several home healthcare businesses billed millions of dollars through Medicaid waiver programs that allow in-home support services for elderly and disabled residents. The report claimed many companies operated out of nearly empty office buildings while collectively receiving hundreds of millions in taxpayer funds between 2018 and 2024.
The investigation focused heavily on non-medical home healthcare services, including housekeeping, meal preparation, companionship, and caregiving assistance performed inside patients’ homes. Reporters alleged that some providers relied on relatives serving as paid caregivers for family members, while others were flagged in audits for questionable billing patterns.
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Ramaswamy said the findings highlighted what he described as systemic failures in state oversight. “We will aggressively prosecute this kind of fraud in Ohio,” he wrote, adding that he plans to work with the Trump administration and federal officials to investigate abuse tied to Medicaid programs.
The former presidential candidate has previously faced criticism from Democrats over past comments describing Medicare and Medicaid as “mistakes,” remarks that resurfaced earlier this year during Ohio’s gubernatorial race. His latest comments, however, focused specifically on fraud prevention and government accountability.
The Daily Wire said its investigative files would be forwarded to a federal task force focused on eliminating fraud, chaired by Vice President JD Vance, an Ohio native.