Fraud referrals increase to BPI

Due to an increase in benefits applications and recipients resulting from the pandemic, the OIG's Benefits Program Integrity (BPI) unit is reporting a significant increase in fraud, waste and abuse referrals. BPI investigates allegations of overpayments to health and human services program clients enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program; Medicaid; Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP); and the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program.

To address the additional volume of investigations, a targeted team of BPI investigators across several regions of the state were called upon to assist. BPI implemented stringent case assignment and tracking protocols. BPI also adjusted duties to help prioritize investigators’ workloads. In the first month of this project, the team identified more than $650,000 in overpayment claims.

BPI has recovered more than $9.3 million in the first two quarters of fiscal year 2021.