A federal audit has found that Maine made at least $45.6 million in improper Medicaid payments for support services provided to children with autism in 2023.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, which conducted the audit, said Maine’s payments for the services did not fully comply with federal and state requirements.
The audit is part of a series looking into “unallowable services and questionable billing patterns” in Medicaid services provided to children with autism, the office said in a news release Thursday.
In a span of five years, Medicaid payments for services for children with developmental disabilities, including autism, in Maine grew significantly, from $52.2 million in 2019 to $80.6 million in 2023, the office said.
The review found that some services in Maine were provided to children who either did not receive required comprehensive assessments, or whose assessments did not include required signatures from parents or staff. It also identified issues with supporting documents for services, including session notes that did not contain a full description of the services provided, the goals addressed or data collected.
“The integrity of Medicaid programs is non-negotiable,” Inspector General T. March Bell said in the release. “Improper payments undermine public trust and divert resources from those who need them most.”
Bell said that Maine has agreed to implement corrective actions, including its own review, and will reimburse the federal government as much as $28.7 million for the federal share of the improper payments.
The audit findings come amid scrutiny of social services programs in Maine — particularly those associated with immigrant communities. The Trump administration has used claims of social services fraud as a pretext for sweeping immigration enforcement enforcement missions in Maine and Minnesota in recent weeks.
This story was originally published by the Maine Trust for Local News. Rachel Ohm can be reached at rohm@pressherald.com.