Fraud by program in Texas
| Program | Announcements | More |
|---|---|---|
| PPP/EIDL | 30 | Texas PPP/EIDL cases |
| Medicare | 25 | Texas Medicare cases |
| Medicaid | 14 | Texas Medicaid cases |
| TRICARE | 8 | Texas TRICARE cases |
| Other federal program | 8 | |
| Social Security | 5 | All Social Security cases |
| Unemployment | 4 | All Unemployment cases |
| Disaster | 3 | All Disaster cases |
| Student aid | 1 | All Student aid cases |
| Housing | 1 | All Housing cases |
Where to report fraud in Texas
| Type of fraud | Report to |
|---|---|
| Medicaid provider fraud | Medicaid Fraud Control Unit · Office of the Attorney General of Texas · (512) 371-4700 |
| SNAP, child care assistance, cash assistance | Texas HHS Office of Inspector General – Report Fraud (hotline 800-436-6184) |
| Unemployment benefits | Texas Workforce Commission – Reporting Fraud, Theft, Waste, or Abuse in a TWC Program (fraud hotline 800-252-3642) |
| Medicare and other HHS programs | HHS-OIG · 1-800-HHS-TIPS |
| Any WHIP-covered federal program, if you want a reward | America.gov/fraud (how to submit) |
Whistleblower rewards in Texas
| Program | What it pays | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act (now Health Care Program Fraud Prevention, Hum. Res. Code ch. 36) Covers Medicaid / health care only (Medicaid, CHIP and Healthy Texas Women program) | 15–25% if the state proceeds; 25–30% if it does not (max 10% if based mainly on public disclosures) | Tex. Hum. Res. Code ch. 36, subch. C (§§ 36.101–36.117); relator share at § 36.110 |
| HHSC award for reporting Medicaid fraud, abuse or overcharges | HHSC may grant an award of up to 5% of the remedy imposed under Hum. Res. Code § 32.039 resulting from the disclosure. Not available if HHSC or the AG already had independent knowledge. Qui tam relators under ch. 36 are not eligible. | Tex. Gov't Code § 544.0205 (formerly § 531.101; recodified eff. 4/1/2025, amended by S.B. 1038 eff. 9/1/2025) |
| Federal WHIP | $10,000–$30,000 per tip that leads to criminal charges | DOJ terms |
| Federal False Claims Act | 15–25% of the recovery if the government intervenes; 25–30% if not | 31 U.S.C. § 3730(d) |
The TMFPA covers only state health care programs, not all state funds. S.B. 745 (2023) renamed ch. 36 'Health Care Program Fraud Prevention' and extended it to CHIP and Healthy Texas Women alongside Medicaid. The HHSC-OIG award statute moved from Gov't Code § 531.101 to § 544.0205 on 4/1/2025; S.B. 1038 (2025) changed its base from 'penalty' to 'remedy'. The statute links point to the official statutes.capitol.texas.gov viewer, which is a JavaScript app. The raw text is at tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/HR/htm/HR.36.htm and GV/htm/GV.544.htm. The oig.hhs.texas.gov/reportfraud link redirects to the OIG's online fraud-report form.
Estimate federal awards for your case with the calculator, or compare programs in WHIP vs the False Claims Act.
Latest announcements
Source: U.S. Department of Justice press releases, classified by WHIP Reward. Each row is one press release; the same case can appear at several stages, so amounts should not be added. Charged cases are allegations. Search all 79 in the database.
Frequently asked questions
How do I report Medicaid fraud in Texas?
Report provider fraud to the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (Office of the Attorney General of Texas), or to the HHS Office of Inspector General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS. To be eligible for a federal WHIP award, also submit the tip in writing at America.gov/fraud.
Does Texas pay whistleblowers?
Yes. Under the Texas Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act (now Health Care Program Fraud Prevention, Hum. Res. Code ch. 36) (Tex. Hum. Res. Code ch. 36, subch. C (§§ 36.101–36.117); relator share at § 36.110), a whistleblower who files a case receives 15–25% if the state proceeds; 25–30% if it does not (max 10% if based mainly on public disclosures). Texas also has: HHSC award for reporting Medicaid fraud, abuse or overcharges (HHSC may grant an award of up to 5% of the remedy imposed under Hum. Res. Code § 32.039 resulting from the disclosure. Not available if HHSC or the AG already had independent knowledge. Qui tam relators under ch. 36 are not eligible.). Federal programs (WHIP and the federal False Claims Act) apply as well.
How many fraud cases has the DOJ announced in Texas?
79 announcements since January 20, 2025 in our database, counting each press release separately (a case can appear at charge, plea and sentencing). 26 of them announced a sentence.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Justice: Whistleblower Rewards Program
- oig.hhs.gov/fraud/state-false-claims-act-reviews
- oig.hhs.gov/fraud/medicaid-fraud-control-units-mfcu/files/contact-directors.pdf
- tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/HR/htm/HR.36.htm
- tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/GV/htm/GV.544.htm
- texasattorneygeneral.gov/divisions/law-enforcement/medicaid-fraud-control-unit
- oig.hhs.texas.gov
- twc.texas.gov/report-fraud
- U.S. Department of Justice press releases (justice.gov/news)