Schaffer SNAP, Medicaid Anti-Fraud Bill Signed into Law

July 10, 2026
From the office of State Senator Tim Shaffer

Columbus, Ohio — Governor Mike DeWine signed into law Senate Bill 315, sponsored by State Senator Tim Schaffer (R-Lancaster) and State Senator Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus), which included various anti-fraud protections for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid.

“The original goal of this legislation was to improve the security of SNAP EBT food cards and reduce fraud, so that benefits are used by families in crisis, not manipulated and stolen by criminals,” Schaffer said. “With the changes made to Senate Bill 315, this bill will accomplish much more than its original scope by adding crucial anti-fraud reforms to our state Medicaid program.”

Upon introduction, SB 315 required the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) provide chip enabled capability for all new and replacement EBT cards used to provide benefits for SNAP, allocating $3 million to support the transition. During the legislative process, the bill was amended to include major protections against and increased criminal penalties for Medicaid fraud.

“Ohio’s single largest budgetary expense is the state Medicaid program,” Schaffer said. “We should be doing all we can to protect the integrity of this program for Ohioans in need while aggressively fighting back against fraud that has been plaguing the system for years and making sure tax-payer dollars do not fall into the hands of criminals.”

The Medicaid protections include:

 

  • Requiring the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) to ensure the effective use of the electronic visit verification (EVV) system for in-home care services;
  • Creating a standardized process for “onboarding” Medicaid providers and expanding the authority of the Attorney General (AG) and Auditor of State (AOS) to investigate Medicaid fraud allegations;
  • Requiring ODM to suspend Medicaid payments if a credible allegation of fraud is submitted to the Department from the state AG or AOS;
  • Expanding whistleblower protections for reporters of suspected Medicaid fraud;
  • Creates new felony offenses and increases fines for those who commit Medicaid fraud;
  • Requiring prior authorization for personal care and all therapeutic behavioral services provided under Medicaid;
  • Requiring ODM to recover all overpayments made to providers, upon the determinization of an audit;
  • Requiring Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) to report fraud to the ODM upon identification of credible evidence; and
  • Permitting MCOs to implement payment integrity actions, such as payment suspensions, prepayment reviews, and denials of payment.

“It is imperative to protect these benefits and taxpayer dollars from criminal gangs and organized crime operations looking to prey on Ohio’s most vulnerable citizens and use these benefits for illegal drugs and other crimes,” Schaffer said.

“While this bill makes much needed reforms to SNAP and Medicaid, our work to stop public assistance fraud, waste, and abuse is far from over,” added Schaffer.

Senate Bill 315 has been signed by Governor DeWine and will go into effect later this year.