BANGOR (BDN) — Maine’s Medicaid program lacks the proper controls to manage the billions of dollars going to health providers across the state, according to an audit released Thursday.

The findings from State Auditor Matt Dunlap’s office come amid a torrent of calls for increased scrutiny of how the state spends its MaineCare dollars and allegations of fraud, which has prompted another battle between President Donald Trump’s administration and Gov. Janet Mills.

Front and center in the growing debate is the embattled Portland health care provider Gateway Community Services, which is currently under investigation for potentially defrauding MaineCare largely through overinflated and underdocumented claims for interpreter services.

Dunlap’s report doesn’t mention either Gateway or interpreter services, but it does warn the state that inadequate monitoring of MaineCare could lead to federal regulators finding Maine out of compliance with its regulations. The state disputed that, but the watchdog’s words could add heat to a tense dispute between the Mills and Trump administrations.

Republicans stretching from top Medicaid regulator and former TV personality Dr. Mehmet Oz to the Maine Legislature are pressuring Mills on the issue during her heated U.S. Senate primary. Dunlap himself is running in a Democratic primary for Maine’s open 2nd Congressional District.

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services paused MaineCare payments to Gateway in December while it investigated “credible allegations of fraud.” The pause came as a result of an audit by DHHS that included a review of 15,000 claims made by Gateway between March 2021 and December 2022.

Dunlap’s report said the Program Integrity Unit, MaineCare’s internal auditing arm, “may not provide adequate monitoring of all Medicaid services. Medicaid programs are jointly funded by states and the federal government, but administration of the programs are mostly left to states.

In recent months, Oz has taken an increasing interest in how Maine is overseeing its program. He sent a letter demanding detailed information regarding the state’s oversight of Medicaid spending, outlining concerns and mentioning a federal criminal case against two interpreters who are charged with defrauding the federal government by filing false tax returns.

The case alleges that two interpreters filed false tax documents with the federal government showing their companies were paid for interpreter services that didn’t happen. The third defendant in the case was an employee of the Lewiston-based Bright Future Healthier You, who died after she was charged.

Bright Future Healthier You was the largest biller of MaineCare for interpreting services in the last 10 years. The company itself has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

The case is the first case the federal government has brought in Maine since a 2021 report by a federal investigator that outlined a suspicious billing pattern for interpreter services. The report highlighted that the billing patterns seemed especially prominent among providers working with Maine’s Somali community and indicated widespread fraud within the MaineCare system.

Gateway was the second-highest biller of interpreter services in the last 10 years and has been the subject of numerous fraud allegations dating back to May 2025, when The Maine Wire, the media arm of the conservative Maine Policy Institute, first reported on claims from a former employee that Gateway falsified records.

Oz’s letter followed an audit performed by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services that found that Maine had made at least $45.6 million in improper Medicaid payments for support services for children with autism in 2023.

In November, widespread federal fraud prosecutions began in Minnesota, and with them, the employee, Chris Bernardini’s claims resurfaced in national conservative news outlets. Then, in December, U.S. Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, the top Republican on the House oversight committee, sent a letter to the U.S. Treasury that identified Gateway, along with its founder Abdullahi Ali, as targets in a broader welfare fraud investigation.

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services disagreed with Dunlap’s finding, saying it resulted from a “misunderstanding” of the federal regulations and how the department is structured. The department also said Dunlap’s findings discounted the regular ongoing checks the Program Integrity Unit undertakes on a more regular basis.

Dunlap said his office wasn’t persuaded by the department’s criticism and that the department “did not provide evidence of utilization control review procedures.”

WARREN, Maine (WWTW) – Dog owners are being urged to take steps to protect their pets from a potentially deadly virus.

The Midcoast Animal Emergency Clinic in Warren said on Tuesday that it is seeing a significant increase in canine parvovirus cases throughout the Midcoast and Augusta areas. Clinic staff also said they have been told about possible contamination at Quarry Hill Dog Park in Portland. Our media partner WMTW has reached out to city officials to learn more about the reported contamination there and mitigation efforts.

A spokesperson for the City of Augusta said there had been no formal notification from the state indicating a confirmed outbreak in the area, but that they had heard, anecdotally, of local cases.

The Kennebec Valley Humane Society did temporarily close in November due to an outbreak of parvo.

As of Wednesday, the city was not implementing any closures or restrictions at local dog parks, but officials were developing educational materials to help inform residents about canine parvovirus, including prevention and symptoms to watch for. These resources will be shared on the city’s website, social media channels, and posted at local dog parks.

What is canine parvovirus?

Animal experts say canine parvovirus (CPV, or parvo) is one of the most serious viruses that dogs and puppies can get. It typically causes severe illness in young and unvaccinated dogs. Parvo is spread by contact with contaminated feces. The virus can also live on surfaces that have been contaminated.

Parvo primarily affects the body’s rapidly dividing cells, meaning the intestinal tract and bone marrow are the most affected.

There is no specific cure for parvovirus in dogs and puppies, but there are treatments and vaccination is highly effective at preventing the virus when administered as directed by veterinarians.

In September of 2025, several animals in Houlton tested positive for the virus.

At the time, WMTW reported there had been an increase in cases in Maine since late 2024.

In the fall of 2025, the Eastern Maine Emergency Veterinary Clinic said dogs were being brought into their facility with the disease almost every week.

Puppies are most vulnerable to the virus, but older dogs that are unvaccinated and/or have compromised immune systems are also at risk.

If your dog is experiencing symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and extreme lethargy, you are asked to quarantine them from other dogs immediately and seek veterinary attention.

Copyright 2026 WABI. All rights reserved.

How far would you be willing to travel for delicious food or a unique experience? What about both?

There’s a restaurant in Lincoln, Maine, called Ninja Japanese Steakhouse Express that you might want to consider visiting.

This small eatery specializes in express-style Japanese dining, boasting a 4.7/5 on Google, but it’s the visually mesmerizing and delicious super-sized sushi and appetizer platter boats that truly stand out.

Sushi Boat at Ninja Japanese Steakhouse Express in Lincoln, Maine

Sure, Ninja Japanese Steakhouse Express has a variety of foods to choose from when you’re feeling hungry, and there’s even some Chinese and Thai options as well.

But there’s something about ordering a meal that comes served up on a large wooden boat that sets the tone for a truly one-of-a-kind meal.

The Lincoln restaurant has that in both its sushi boat and Tokyo boat.

Let’s just say they are a feast for the eyes and mouth.

Looking at Ninja Japanese Steakhouse Express’ menu highlights its sushi boat options, either for one or two, at $86 or $99, respectively. So go big or go home, right?

When Did Ninja Japanese Steakhouse Express Open in Lincoln, Maine?

Ninja Japanese Steakhouse Express is a relatively new venture, having opened in 2024 in Lincoln.

Right from its grand debut, the restaurant noted on its Facebook page that from “savory Hibachi and Teriyaki to Bento boxes and Sushi, every dish is crafted with fresh ingredients and mouthwatering flavors that will have you coming back for more.”

Not only was there a positive response from the outset, but that excitement for the restaurant has continued today, especially with the incredibly fun boat service loaded with food.

Here’s just a few recent reviews:

“Great food, friendly service fair prices! Worth the 70 mile round trip! Will be seeing us again!”

“The portions are very generous, the food was very tasty and all ingredients were fresh and well prepared.”

“The man that was there running things and cooking was SO friendly and helpful and hospitable. He kept bringing things out for us to try and talked to us and treated us like family.”

READ MORE: Hit Up All 5 Maine Restaurants Featured on Guy Fieri’s ‘Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives’ for the Ultimate Road Trip

At the end of the day, you could order a normal plate of sushi, or you could go all in and get a super boat of it. Sounds like a drive to this hidden gem location for a special meal seems like an adventure worth setting sail for.

Hungry for some sushi?