Congress is getting involved in accusations surrounding Medicaid payments made to Maine nonprofit Gateway Community Services, which works with immigrants.
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services says it’s cutting payments to Gateway after a recent audit found the nonprofit was overpaid by more than $1 million back in 2021 and 2022. A DHHS spokesperson says suspension of Medicaid payments is imposed when there’s suspected fraud. Overbilling in Medicaid is distinct from fraud and is often appealed.
Now, Maine state Republicans have announced that Republican U.S. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer of Kentucky has requested Suspicious Activity Reports from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent over the actions of Gateway.
Republican leadership in the state legislature is blaming Democrats for a lack of oversight over Medicaid billing.
“We’ve repeatedly raised concerns about MaineCare (the Medicaid program in Maine) waste and fraud. Legislative Democrats refused to include safeguards and audits in the budget,” said Senate Republican Leader Trey Stewart, R-Aroostook said in a news release. “How much malfeasance has to come to light before Governor Mills and State House Democrats recognize there is a problem here?”
“If we have even a tenth of the fraud that occurred in Minnesota by Somali NGO’s this may be the biggest fraud scandal in Maine history. We need investigations now,” said House Republican Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham, R- Winter Harbor.
Gateway denies any wrongdoing and says staff have received death threats as a result of the accusations.
Between 2019 and 2024, Gateway billed Medicaid $28.8 million.
