In a significant move, Maine state officials have suspended payments to Gateway Community Services, a nonprofit based in Portland that provides health care services primarily to immigrants. This decision follows the revelation of over $1 million in overpayments identified during a recent audit.
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced on Tuesday that the suspension comes after a third audit uncovered issues related to billing practices between March 2021 and December 2022. DHHS spokesperson Lindsay Hammes confirmed that the matter has been referred to the Office of the Attorney General for further investigation, as the state takes steps in response to credible allegations of fraud.
According to Hammes, “Payment suspensions must be imposed when there is a credible allegation of fraud, unless ‘good cause exception’ criteria are met to delay such action.” She emphasized the state’s commitment to maintaining high standards and ensuring proper utilization of public funds.
Gateway Community Services, established by Abdullahi Ali, a Somali American, has stated it will review the allegations thoroughly. In a statement, attorney Pawel Binczyk indicated that the organization intends to cooperate with the state and defend its practices. “Gateway stands by its previous statements on this issue and will continue to cooperate with the state as it has in the past,” Binczyk stated.
The allegations of fraud first emerged six months ago, largely through claims made by a former employee, Chris Bernardini. Initial reports appeared in The Maine Wire, a conservative media outlet, and resurfaced recently in national news, including coverage by Fox News and NewsNation. These reports have linked Gateway to broader concerns regarding alleged fraud schemes involving members of the Somali community in Minnesota, an issue highlighted by former President Donald Trump during his administration.
The latest audit, which began in January 2023, was instigated by “internal data analytics” indicating potential discrepancies in billing. The audit revealed nearly $1.1 million in overpayments, following earlier reports that identified $662,608 in overpayments made to Gateway from 2015 to 2018. Those earlier issues were also uncovered through multiyear audits conducted in response to complaints.
The timing of the suspension coincides with a request from Rep. James Comer (R-Tenn.), chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, who sought financial information regarding Gateway and related organizations. Comer asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessett for “certain Suspicious Activity Reports” linked to suspected fraud in Minnesota, where Gateway is named among organizations of interest.
In a statement released earlier this month, Gateway Community Services acknowledged the state audit’s findings related to overbilling but asserted that there was no evidence of intentional wrongdoing or billing for services not rendered. Binczyk’s lengthy statement defended the organization’s practices, asserting, “Gateway Community Services maintains strict billing, documentation, and compliance protocols.”
He further highlighted the potential consequences of the ongoing allegations, noting that “these reckless narratives have real impacts on the thousands of Mainers, a majority of whom are not immigrants, that rely on Gateway for services, as well as the many employees, again many of whom are not immigrants, that work to assist those Mainers.”
The ongoing suspension of payments and the investigation into Gateway Community Services continue to raise questions about the intersection of health care, immigration, and accountability in the use of public funds in Maine.
