A new task force created by the governor’s executive order is intended to root out fraud and waste in state taxpayer-funded health care.

Gov. Bruce Rauner says the Health Care Fraud Elimination Task Force will work over the next year and a half to investigate where taxpayer savings can be found. Rauner says the state has a moral obligation to find savings while keeping health care quality high, drive better value for taxpayers and free up money for other vital needs.

The governor says the 12-member task force, composed of administration members, will study and utilize best practices of state agency fraud-prevention units, federal government and other state governments’ efforts, and measures used in the private sector to root out fraud, waste and abuse.