By: News Intern Katherine Jones
ST. PAUL- Minnesota Medicaid officials said yesterday that they have identified another $3.8 million that was overpaid to two Minnesota Indian bands for opioid addiction treatment.
That brings the total amount to $29.1 million in overpayments stretching back to 2014.
The new amount reflects payments made in 2019 that had not been tallied in reviews of earlier periods. State and tribal officials are still reviewing records to determine an official total.
DHS officials have said the bands would have to repay the excess funds, although at times they have left the door open to negotiation.
DHS Commissioner Jodi Harpstead and tribal leaders issued a joint statement that read in part:
“The figures that were released today are disappointing, but we are all aware that new figures would be revealed. We are committed to working collaboratively to reconcile state and tribal records, determine a final amount, and develop a plan for resolution.”
The statement also said that they look forward to a pending review by the Office of the Legislative Auditor, which was asked to investigate the overpayments in July.
