Texas Launches Probe of Medicaid Providers Using DOGE Data

Investigations target home health, occupational therapy, and COVID-19 treatment providers for potential fraud

Apr. 8, 2026 at 12:21am

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A minimalist design in the style of Keith Haring where a stethoscope is defined entirely by vibrant neon lines against a deep, dark background, emphasizing the shape and electricity of medical equipment.Neon-outlined medical tools shine a light on healthcare fraud schemes targeting taxpayer-funded programs.Austin Today

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched investigations into dozens of Medicaid providers in the state using data acquired through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The probe will target home health providers, occupational therapy providers, and entities that may have committed fraud related to COVID-19 treatments. Paxton said his office has already recovered over $1 billion from Medicaid fraud since 2020 and vowed to continue pursuing any fraudsters who attempt to cheat Texans out of money by exploiting the healthcare system.

Why it matters

The Texas probe follows a similar investigation in California that netted several arrests involving an estimated $60 million in hospice care fraud. The Trump administration has ramped up efforts to find healthcare fraudsters bilking the system for millions of dollars, with the DOGE team granted access to Medicare and Medicaid data to help reduce waste, fraud, and abuse across the federal government.

The details

DOGE launched a public portal on February 13 of the largest Medicaid dataset in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services history, billing it as a way for the public to help the team detect fraud. The dataset contains aggregated, provider-level claims data for specific billing codes over time and can be accessed by anyone in the general public. Paxton has created a Healthcare Program Enforcement Division, which recently filed a number of cases against entities, including Children's Health, Eli Lilly, and Sanofi.

  • On April 7, 2026, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched the investigations into dozens of Medicaid providers in the state.
  • Since 2020, Paxton's office has recovered over $1 billion from Medicaid fraud.

The players

Ken Paxton

The Texas Attorney General who launched the investigations into Medicaid providers using DOGE data.

Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

A government agency that launched a public portal in February 2026 containing the largest Medicaid dataset in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services history, which is being used to help detect fraud.

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What they’re saying

“My office has already recovered over $1 billion from Medicaid fraud alone since 2020, and I will continue to pursue any fraudster who attempts to cheat Texans out of money by exploiting our health care system.”

— Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General

What’s next

The Texas probe follows a similar investigation in California that netted several arrests involving an estimated $60 million in hospice care fraud. The U.S. Department of Justice also announced on April 7 that civil and criminal cases were filed against companies that allegedly tried to bill taxpayer-funded programs for more than $500 million in fraudulent claims.

The takeaway

This investigation highlights the ongoing efforts by state and federal authorities to crack down on healthcare fraud and protect taxpayer-funded programs like Medicaid from abuse. The use of data analytics tools like DOGE is part of a broader strategy to identify and prosecute fraudsters who exploit vulnerabilities in the system.