News

Mills administration touts efforts to crack down on Medicaid fraud amid scrutiny from Trump administration

Mills administration touts efforts to crack down on Medicaid fraud amid scrutiny from Trump administration

Photo: 560 WGAN Newsradio


The administration of Gov. Janet Mills says the state suspended Medicaid payments to five providers in June over credible fraud allegations.

The administration said it also terminated two providers and disenrolled 28 caregivers they say failed to submit a claim in a timely manner.

The announcement Wednesday comes the same week U.S. Medicare and Medicaid Services head Dr. Mehmet Oz came to Maine and claimed that 90 percent of Medicaid payments in the state are “unjustified.”

In a statement Tuesday, Maine DHHS pushed back against the claim, saying it works with police and partners to crack down on fraud and has rigorous oversight.

During his visit, Dr. Oz met with the conservative media outlet The Maine Wire and former Republican Gov. Paul LePage, who’s running to represent Maine’s 2nd Congressional District.

According to the Portland Press Herald, a Mills spokesperson says Dr. Oz’s choice not to meet with state officials during his visit suggests the Trump administration is “more interested in politics than fighting fraud.”

LePage issued a statement Wednesday about his meeting with Dr. Oz, saying in part: “We talked about modernizing his agency, delivering better health outcomes for Americans, and tackling the welfare fraud that has been widely reported across the country and is hitting Maine hard.”

In December, the state suspended payments to Gateway Community Services, a Portland-based nonprofit accused of fraud.

Latest Headlines

8 hours ago in Entertainment, Music

Space for music on late-night TV has dwindled. New media seeks to offer an alternative

When CBS ended "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" earlier this year, it also shuttered the program's robust music offerings — a major blow for artists whose television platform was already dwindling.

8 hours ago in Lifestyle

Gene-edited beagles may offer a future option for people with dog allergies

Matt Walker couldn't pet a dog without sneezing — until he and other scientists used a gene editing technique to produce a hypoallergenic beagle named Bailey.

8 hours ago in Entertainment

Tupac Shakur was killed in Las Vegas in 1996. Here’s who was there that night

New details about one of hip-hop's most enduring mysteries — the 1996 killing of rap icon Tupac Shakur — could finally come to light in the upcoming trial of Duane "Keffe D" Davis.

1 day ago in Entertainment, Trending

Ariana Grande on decision to withdraw from the public eye: ‘Not a reactive or impulsive thing’

Ariana Grande chose to "clear the air about a few things" during her concert Monday night, following the news that she will be taking a break from being in the public eye after the conclusion of her "Eternal Sunshine" tour.

1 day ago in Lifestyle

Fishing closures are becoming routine as record heat warms rivers in the US West

Trout need cool water to survive, but record heat this summer has driven water temperatures to lethal levels for fish. Wildlife officials are banning fishing during certain hours on rivers and streams across the U.S. West, following an exceptionally dry winter and amid widespread drought.