Inspector General’s Office responds to report on Maine’s Medicaid program

PORTLAND (WGME) — A member of the U.S. Inspector General’s Office is speaking about the recently released report into Maine’s Medicaid program.

The report found Maine made roughly $45 million in improper Medicaid payments for services provided to children diagnosed with autism. The report noted the payments didn’t fully comply with federal and state requirements.

The federal agency says payments for the services jumped by more than $20 million over a span of four years.

That increase is what helped trigger the audit.

“It is not clear that the children were actually receiving effective therapy services,” Assistant Regional Inspector General for Audit Services Pei Sun said. “It’s undermining really the integrity of the state programs, and it impacts every taxpayer, right? Because we pay for these programs.”

The Inspector General gave multiple recommendations to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, such as refunding the federal government $28 million.

Maine DHHS responded to these claims, saying that the Inspector General’s report is based on a “routine,” “programmatic audit.” They note it “does not include findings or allegations of fraud,” and instead potential “documentation and compliance issues” they claim the state is now reviewing.

The Inspector General says their office will continue to follow up with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to monitor the state’s progress on implementing their recommendations.