AUGUSTA — Republican Gov. Paul LePage is calling for more action on welfare fraud by Democratic Attorney General Janet Mills, who says the administration has denied requests for another fraud prosecutor.
LePage in a release said less than half of the welfare fraud cases presented to Mills in 2015 has been prosecuted, and nearly 50 cases are still pending.
He said the Department of Health and Human Services has significantly increased its referral of welfare fraud cases. LePage also criticized Mills for pursuing a $500 fine against a state commission for violating public meeting rules.
In a release, Mill’s office said it’s recovered $26 million in improper MaineCare billing since 2014 and $654,000 from 62 individuals who defrauded DHHS programs in 2014 and 2015.
Mills said only one prosecutor handles benefit frauds.
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