Patrick Questions Accuracy Of State Welfare Audit
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — Gov. Deval Patrick is questioning the accuracy of a recent audit that found state welfare benefits had been paid to more than 1,100 dead people.
In an interview with WSHM-TV in Springfield, Patrick called on state Auditor Suzanne Bump to share all the information gathered by her staff during the audit that covered a 2 1/2 year period.
Patrick said the auditor has given the administration only 178 cases of benefits allegedly going to people after they died. Of those 178 cases, he said, nine times out of 10 the conclusions were wrong.
The governor's comments echoed criticism from Secretary of Health and Humans Services John Polanowicz in a letter to Bump on Thursday.
Bump is defending the audit, saying the recommendations will help improve the integrity of public benefit programs.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
