“My question is where are the adults in the Republican Party right now,” Grant said. “We have [Maine Republican Party Chairman] Charlie Webster and the Maine Heritage Policy Center manufacturing fraud to push their own ideological agendas.” (Where was (now former) Gov. John Baldacci (D) and his administration?)
“Let’s stop the nonsense,” Grant said. “There are people in this state who want to solve the real problems facing Mainers. Let’s stop the lies and misleading information and start talking about the real facts.” (THE DOCUMENTATED FACTS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO THIS ADMINISTRATION AND THE BALDACCI ADMINISTRATION. THE PROBLEM? THE UNRESPONSIVENESS AND OBVIOUS COVER UP BY THE GOOD OLE’ BOY NETWORK RECEIVING CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS!)
“LePage talked with reporters shortly after Thursday’s press conference. First, he said he wanted to thank the individual who recorded the video but said he wished he had received it back in February because “we’d be six months further along in fixing the problem.”
“The governor went on to say that the video showed poor customer service and poor time management on the part of the DHHS staffer.”
“Although I do not believe the video shows an employee willfully allowing abuse of the welfare system, I do believe it is an example of how poor training can open the door to fraud and abuse,” LePage said. “We must protect the limited resources for those who are truly in need and shutdown the benefits for those abusing the system.”
“The video was produced by Project Veritas, a national group that has conducted a series of undercover investigations into Medicaid fraud across the country. The case in Maine is just one of many instances of fraud found across the country, according to Project Veritas founder James O’Keefe.”
“O’Keefe refers to himself as a citizen journalist but has generated criticism for his ethically questionable tactics.” (WHEN YOU ASK QUESTIONS, YOU GOT THEM CORNERED, THEY DESPERATELY TRY TO PUT THE SPOTLIGHT ON THE LITTLE GUY, WITH THE HELP OF THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA, WHO IS TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.)
“The Maine Heritage Policy Center, however, stood by the video and said it should motivate action from all branches of government.”
“Our system is clearly vulnerable to fraud and abuse, and we can no longer pretend these things only happen in other states,” Dutson said.”
IS THIS ADMINISTRATION UNAWARE THAT WE THE PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THE THE LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY, LACK OF CHECKS AND BALANCES AND LACK OF COMMON SENSE THAT EXISTS WITHIN MAINE’S STATE LEGISLATURE?
Like the Maine Heritage Policy Center’s standing by the video, I stand by my (the state’s) documented evidence. Problems within the DHS is documented back to the 1980’s. Video tape by Tom Dunn (credentials) soon to be released. No one in Augusta is apparently interested!
WELL, I ‘GOTCHA’! …..UNTIL PROVEN OTHERWISE.
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BDN reports “The Maine Heritage Policy Center (MHPC) and Americans for Prosperity-Maine (AFP) held a joint press conference in Augusta to unveil a secretly recorded interaction between a Department of Health and Human Services employee in Biddeford and Ted Ceanneidigh, who was applying for taxpayer-funded health care. The video was produced by Project Veritas, a national group that has conducted a serious of undercover investigations into Medicaid fraud. The case in Maine is just one of many instances of fraud found across the country, according to Project Veritas founder James O’Keefe.”
WCSH TV Channel 6 reports “The video of an actor speaking to a case worker in a Biddeford office of the state Health and Human Services Department was released Thursday.”
“Gov. Paul LePage says the video doesn’t show someone trying to defraud the system, but it points to a need for better staff training. LePage’s statement Thursday afternoon:
“I was made aware of the incident involving the Eligibility Specialist late yesterday and I did watch the video. I want to thank the individual who took this video; although I would have liked to receive in February when he filmed it and we would be six months further along in fixing the problem. I am concerned with what I saw on the video for two reasons. First, that we are not providing the best service to the citizens of Maine. Much time was wasted in this interview. Second, it was clear to me that this individual was poorly trained and I take full responsibility for that. The video in its entirety does not show a person willfully helping someone de-fraud the welfare system. It does show a need for further job knowledge and continuous and improved staff training. The employee has been on the job for approximately a year.
We need to do a better job providing our employees the best training possible and ensure they know their job and the responsibility that comes with it. The Fraud and Abuse Work Team has identified the need for better education and training of front line staff in identifying and preventing fraud and abuse. They also are working to identify systems vulnerable to fraud and abuse.
Although I do not believe the video shows an employee willfully allowing abuse of the welfare system, I do believe it is an example of how poor training can open the door to fraud and abuse. We must protect the limited resources for those who are truly in need and shutdown the benefits for those abusing the system.
I have asked Commissioner Mayhew to look into the incident immediately and to take the necessary steps to correct this problem.” ”
Notwithstanding all of the Medicaid and Medicare funds used in the abuse of the elderly and funds spent on prescription drugs NOT NEEDED, see the following links.
Letter to (now former) A.G. Janet Mills.
CONTRADICTION TO CONVERSATION WITH GOVERNOR JOHN BALDACCI
The Unmasking of Maine....and Beyond 