Florida Removed 220 Medicaid Providers

Governor Ron DeSantis announced the termination of providers amid an effort to curb Medicaid fraud and waste.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Financial Crime

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a geometric state building facade, evoking the institutional oversight of medical billing fraud. — Florida state officials terminated 220 Medicaid providers following an intensive investigation into billing fraud and abuse within the state health system. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the Agency for Health Care Administration has terminated 220 providers from the state Medicaid program. The action follows an intensive effort to combat billing fraud and abuse within the health system.

Why it matters

The state is prioritizing the reduction of waste in public health spending to protect taxpayer dollars. Officials believe these measures will significantly decrease Medicaid expenditures while curbing potential misuse of medical services.

The Agency for Health Care Administration has made more than 150 fraud-related referrals to the Florida Attorney General's Office. Additionally, more than 250 providers remain on payment restrictions or have had their payments suspended.

The players

Ron DeSantis

He is the Governor of Florida who announced the new measures to eliminate fraud from the state's Medicaid program.

Agency for Health Care Administration

This is the Florida state agency responsible for overseeing the Medicaid program and conducting provider site visits.

Florida Attorney General's Office

This state office is currently reviewing more than 150 fraud-related referrals submitted by health regulators.

SentiLink

This identity verification company partnered with the state to assist in screening Medicaid providers.

The details

The state utilized data analytics, claims monitoring, and background screening in partnership with SentiLink to identify problematic providers. The 220 terminated entities were responsible for $230 million in Medicaid billing during 2025.

2023-2025: Florida spent $6.57 billion on Applied Behavioral Analysis services.
2025: The state moved Applied Behavioral Analysis services into managed care.
January 2026: The Agency for Health Care Administration began conducting more than 400 site visits.
October 6, 2026: Governor Ron DeSantis announced the removal of the Medicaid providers.

Legal Context

This enforcement action follows the 2025 transition of Applied Behavioral Analysis services into managed care. The move aims to align health spending with broader state goals of fiscal accountability in the Medicaid system.

The state's efforts to remove fraudulent providers are intended to ensure Medicaid resources reach eligible residents. The agency's increased site visits and screening aim to protect the integrity of the health program for all Floridians.

The takeaway

Florida officials anticipate that these rigorous enforcement actions will result in over $1 billion in total savings for the state. Strengthening provider screening processes serves as a critical step toward ensuring sustainable growth in Medicaid expenditures.