AUGUSTA — State officials are cracking down on welfare fraud.
Gov. Paul LePage and Attorney General William Schneider said Wednesday that officials from the state Department of Health and Human Services and the attorney general’s office are intensifying their focus on preventing and prosecuting fraud and abuse in public assistance programs.
A Fraud and Abuse Prevention Team has been formed to see what resources are available within state government to deter fraud before it happens. It will also make sure that all illegal activities within Medicaid, Food Supplement, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and other programs are being properly investigated.
Efforts are also under way to strengthen the fraud hotline in DHHS and improve training for staff to identify fraud.
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