You won’t believe our story of Medicaid waste, fraud and abuse

This article originally appeared at Baptist News Global on May 22, 2025.

Three days before what we thought would be my wife, Ruth Ellen’s, final surgery for stage three breast cancer, my mind was racing as I was trying to finish moving out of our old house while confirming plans for where our five kids would be staying during her procedure. After almost two years of chemotherapy, radiation and surgeries, we felt like we finally were going to be able to take a breath.

As I locked the door to our old house on the evening of July 18, 2023, I walked up the driveway and checked the mail one last time. Then in an instant, my heart sank in confusion, shock and fear as I opened a letter from South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson’s office informing us they were investigating Ruth Ellen for Medicaid fraud.

Rick Pidcock

“The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office received a request from the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to review information you have submitted which allowed you access to, and use of, Medicaid health care coverage,” the letter began. “It appears that the SC DHHS has concerns about the validity of some of this information. I am writing this letter to advise you that Mr. LaRone Washington, a Prosecutor for the South Carolina Attorney General’s Medicaid Recipient Fraud Unit, has reviewed the initial complaint from the SC DHHS. He has approved an investigation into these questions.”

The letter went on to say, “The accusation in this matter alleges criminal conduct,” with the last three words of that sentence underlined. It asked Ruth Ellen to meet with the prosecutors voluntarily, informed her of her right to remain silent, and added, “You do have a right to seek representation from a Criminal Defense Attorney.” But it warned, “Regardless of your decision, my investigation will continue with, or without, your input.”

With President Donald Trump and the GOP gearing up to go after “waste, fraud and abuse” in the Medicaid system, Americans need to have an honest conversation about how these government officials are going after poor and sick people they think are scamming the system.

“Americans need to have an honest conversation about how these government officials are going after poor and sick people they think are scamming the system.”

Sure, waste, fraud and abuse exist. And the result of these crimes is that less funds are available to help those in need. But if we’re going to improve our health care, we need to do so with compassion for those who are suffering and caution before putting people through unnecessary, terrifying investigations.

As you read our story, I hope it will open your awareness and heart to the reality that much of the injustice happening today isn’t due to poor people taking advantage of the system, but points to how inadequate and inconsiderate the system is.

‘A technical issue in our database’

Before I get to the allegations, I need to start by sharing a series of challenges with the Medicaid system we had leading up to it.

For the previous decade, our experience with Medicaid was rather smooth. We’d fill out our review each year. And because my income was always low, they approved our coverage. With five kids, there was no way we ever could have afforded to buy private insurance.

The chaos began in May 2023 due to Medicaid starting the annual review process for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. We received a letter on May 2, 2023, stating, “Medicaid eligibility for the following persons will end on the date listed below.” The date we were scheduled to lose coverage was June 1, 2023.

Of course, at this point we were very concerned because Ruth Ellen was in the middle of cancer treatments, with a major surgery coming up in July. How were we going to find an affordable health insurance coverage without disrupting her treatments? Would they allow her to keep her doctors? Was she not going to be able to have her final surgery?

Continue reading at Baptist News Global.