Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services has received a federal grant of $424,388 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to enhance the detection of fraud in public benefits applications. The grant will be used to implement a new system utilizing technology to identify potentially fraudulent online applications, focusing initially on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The system will also cover other programs like TANF, Medicaid, and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
Heather Smith, Chief of DPHHS’ Program Compliance Bureau, highlighted the increasing trend of online fraud across states and emphasized the importance of the new system in combating fraud. The technology will flag indicators of potential fraud, such as applications from out-of-state or multiple applications from the same computer or phone number. DPHHS aims to implement the system by the summer of 2025 after testing it in the coming months.
Smith acknowledged the possibility of false positives but reiterated the department’s commitment to being good stewards of taxpayers’ money. She mentioned that fraud exists in these programs, with 1,528 referrals for potential fraud in the 2024 fiscal year and 241 disqualifications from SNAP for program violations. The department’s focus on using technology to combat fraud reflects their dedication to maintaining the integrity of public benefit programs.
Source
Photo credit www.ktvh.com
