In Brief: Nebraska Auditor Calls For Reform Of State\'s Health Agency

Nebraska Auditor Mike Foley has called for reforming the state's Department of Health and Human Services, saying it bungled its programs for aged, blind and disabled healthcare.

Nebraska has about 6,000 residents in its aged, blind and disabled program who receive cash assistance for either themselves or for medical care. The payments, which total about $15 million a year, are both are made by the state HHS.

According to a sample of cases examined by Foley's office, 36% percent of the time HHS was making unreasonably high payments or payments in violation of state regulations. Altogether, about $484,000 in overpayments to medical providers were made in 2012, although the figure dropped dramatically to less than $2,600 this year.

“Once again, the citizens of Nebraska have seen their hard-earned taxdollars squandered by the State’s largest agency of government. Clearly, the people who pay the bills have been disserved again,” Foley said in a statement. “Far worse, though, the welfare of some of Nebraska’s most vulnerable elderly and disabled citizens, including veterans, has been jeopardized by the negligence of DHHS.”

Foley is running for Nebraska's governorship.