Maine state officials have suspended payments to Gateway Community Services, a nonprofit in Portland that provides health care to immigrants, following allegations of fraud. This decision comes after a previously undisclosed audit revealed over $1 million in overpayments from March 2021 to December 2022. The suspension was announced by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) on Tuesday, with the case now referred to the Office of the Attorney General for further investigation.
According to DHHS spokesperson Lindsay Hammes, the suspension is a standard procedure when credible fraud allegations arise. “Payment suspensions must be imposed when there is a credible allegation of fraud, unless ‘good cause exception’ criteria are met to delay such action,” Hammes stated. She emphasized the commitment to maintaining high standards and accountability in public fund usage.
In response to the allegations, Pawel Binczyk, the attorney representing Gateway Community Services, stated that the organization would thoroughly review the claims. He said, “Gateway stands by its previous statements on this issue and will continue to cooperate with the state as it has in the past.”
The fraud allegations initially surfaced six months ago from a former employee, Chris Bernardini, and were reported by The Maine Wire, a conservative media outlet. Recently, these claims gained renewed attention through national news platforms, including Fox News and NewsNation. These reports have drawn connections between Gateway and alleged fraud schemes involving Somali immigrants in Minnesota, which have been highlighted by former President Donald Trump in his immigration policy discussions.
Gateway Community Services was founded by Abdullahi Ali, a Somali American and politician who previously ran for office in Jubaland, Somalia. The ongoing audit, which began in January 2023, identified “areas of noncompliance and associated overpayment” amounting to nearly $1.1 million. This audit was initiated based on internal data analytics and was kept confidential until its findings were confirmed.
Previously, DHHS discovered $662,608 in overpayments made to Gateway between 2015 and 2018, following audits conducted in response to complaints during both the Paul LePage and Janet Mills administrations. The timing of the current payment suspension coincides with a request from James Comer, the chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for financial documents related to the nonprofit. Comer has sought “certain Suspicious Activity Reports” concerning suspected fraud in Minnesota from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessett; Gateway Community Services is included in a list of organizations under investigation.
While the reports suggest implications of fraud, Gateway Community Services has asserted that nothing in the audits indicates intentional wrongdoing or that the organization billed for services not rendered. In a statement released on December 12, Binczyk defended the nonprofit’s practices, asserting, “Gateway Community Services maintains strict billing, documentation and compliance protocols, and has cooperated with state oversight agencies.”
The organization stressed that the narratives surrounding these allegations significantly impact the thousands of Mainers who rely on its services, highlighting that a majority of its clients are not immigrants. The statement concluded with a call for understanding, emphasizing the dedication of its staff in assisting the community.
As the investigation progresses, the implications of these allegations extend beyond Gateway Community Services, raising questions about oversight and accountability in nonprofit healthcare funding.
