Fraud Chair Alleges a Feeding Our Future Defendant Received Medicaid Money While Awaiting Trial

Photo by Alyssa Chen Minnesota Reformer)

(Minnesota Reformer) -Rep. Kristin Robbins, R-Maple Grove, alleged  that the Minnesota Department of Human Services paid  Medicaid money to a defendant in the Feeding Our Future case through the assisted living program while they were awaiting trial.

Robbins, who chairs the House fraud prevention committee and is running for governor, alleged during the public hearing Wednesday that the Department of Human Services gave taxpayer dollars to a Feeding Our Future defendant as late as October  while he was awaiting his federal trial  through the state’s assisted and customized living program. Robbins declined to name the defendant and said her researcher used public records to identify the payments.

After Robbins’ presentation, DHS Inspector General James Clark didn’t corroborate her allegations.

An assisted living facility provides sleeping accommodations and customized living services to one or more adults. The services can include assisting people with daily living tasks, like bathing and feeding, nursing tasks and medication management. People pay a fee to live in assisted living facilities, and Medicaid-eligible residents can get help paying for customized living services through state Medicaid waivers, which the Department of Human Services is responsible for overseeing.