DOGE sets its sights on Medicare and Medicaid : NPR

Health Care

DOGE sets its sights on Medicare and Medicaid

February 10, 20254:39 PM ET
Heard on All Things Considered
By Courtney Dorning, Ari Shapiro, Elena Burnett 8-Minute Listen Download Transcript

The Department of Government Efficiency, has focused in on the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. What could DOGE’s efforts mean to the tens of millions of Americans who rely on them?

ARI SHAPIRO, HOST: Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is quickly expanding its reach through the federal government. It recently accessed systems at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Musk and his team are now looking at key payment and contracting systems for Medicare and Medicaid – that was first reported by The Wall Street Journal. On X, Musk posted, he believes that, quote, “big money fraud is happening.”

In a moment, we’ll get to the impact of DOGE operating at CMS.

First, a quick reminder of what these programs actually do. Medicare insures older people. Medicaid offers insurance to low-income people and those with disabilities. Together, these two programs serve tens of millions of people. They consume a huge part of federal and state budgets.
To explain how the Department of Government Efficiency might impact those services, we’ve invited two former senior government officials. Kathleen Sebelius was Health and Human Services secretary under President Obama, and Mark McClellan was Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator under President George W. Bush. Thank you so much for joining us to both of you.

Read more: DOGE sets its sights on Medicare and Medicaid : NPR

Source Links: DOGE sets its sights on Medicare and Medicaid : NPR