AG Lopez rejected recent claims thatHawaiʻi “isn’t taking Medicaid fraud seriously,” calling the claims by Vice President J.D.Vance false and unsupported by the record.Since 2021, the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) has secured or helped securejudgments, settlements and recoveries in 25 cases, totaling $14,094,547.91. Last year,the MFCU secured a $30,000 settlement against a Medicaid provider for fraudulentbilling. Earlier this year, the MFCU secured another Medicaid fraud settlement in theamount of $208,317.69.The MFCU also filed criminal charges earlier this year against two individuals, one ofwhom has already pleaded no contest as charged.

“Political attacks do not change the facts. Hawaiʻihas not ignored Medicaid fraud. Our Medicaid Fraud Control Unit has secured or helpedsecure more than $14 million in judgments, settlements and recoveries since 2021, filedDepartment of the Attorney GeneralNews Release 2026-17Page 2recent criminal charges — and is actively working with federal and state partners tostrengthen investigations and prosecutions. We welcome accountability, but we will notallow the work of this unit to be mischaracterized as doing nothing.” – AG Lopez