Former state agency directors call new Medicaid fraud task force a ‘sham’

By: Clark Kauffman

Outlets: Iowa Capital Dispatch

Published: July 31, 2026

Words: 850

Last Updated: 2 days, 22 hours ago

Body Text Preview

Two former directors of the state agency that oversees Medicaid fraud investigations said Friday that Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird’s newly formed fraud task force is “political theater.”

Dean Lerner and Kevin Techau, who served as directors of the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals under Democratic governors Tom Vilsack and Chet Culver, said Bird, a Republican, is “leaving millions of dollars on the table” by not working to fully fund Iowa’s existing Medicaid Fraud …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us