Ohio Candidate Outlines Plan to Address Medicaid Fraud

Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy outlined a plan to address Medicaid fraud in an interview with the Ruthless Podcast released Friday morning. Ramaswamy said fraud raises healthcare costs for people who follow the rules. He stated that prosecuting violations and redirecting recovered funds would benefit those paying into the system.

The candidate described a three-part approach that includes aligning federal and state incentives, reducing administrative layers, and increasing prosecutions. He noted that Medicaid spending in Ohio rose from $27 billion to $47 billion over ten years while enrollment increased by about 100,000 people.

Ramaswamy also referenced $1.1 trillion in combined state and federal improper payments over the same period. He said the funds recovered through enforcement should return to workers rather than support fraudulent claims.

He will face Democratic nominee Amy Acton in the November 3 general election. Podcast co-host John Ashbrook wrote that fraud has become a more prominent topic in recent weeks. Ashbrook said voters want concrete steps before the 2026 midterms.