Ohio launching ‘integrity reviews’ of the state’s publicly funded child care programs
Amid ongoing allegations and increasing public concern about fraud tied to Ohio’s public benefits programs, the Ohio Department of Children and Youth is launching “integrity reviews” of the state’s publicly funded child care programs.
Assistant Deputy Director Contracts and Monitoring Matthew Cunningham sent a letter to “Programs Participating in Ohio’s Publicly Funded Child Care Program” ordering that they prepare information that agency personnel will collect by Wednesday.
Child care programs must provide “the last 90 days of attendance records,” starting with the week that includes Oct. 7, and a “statement or documentation of your operating hours and operating days” as of Friday.
“All eligible child care providers who choose to participate in the Publicly Funded Child Care Program (PFCC) must comply with all state and federal requirements, as well as any program integrity reviews,” Cunningham wrote. “Additionally, providers are required to comply with all requirements, outlined in the signed Provider Agreement for Early Care and Education Services, which states providers must cooperate and participate in reviews.”
Providers that do not cooperate could receive a “suspension or termination of the provider agreement.”
“Failure to provide requested records within the time frame … may determine that no records exist for payment paid to the Provider for the child care reportedly rendered,” Cunningham wrote. “Such determination shall result in the recoupment of all payments made for which no records are provided.”
Aside from a New Year’s Eve statement, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine has been largely silent as allegations of fraud gain momentum and a scandal that began in Minnesota now appears to be spreading to the Buckeye State. The fraud allegations in Ohio appear to be on two fronts: state-funded childcare facilities and Medicaid fraud, both of which center on members of Ohio’s Somali community.
While his office released a statement, a DeWine spokesman has not responded to requests for comment from Ohio.News, including what the governor would say to Ohioans who may be worried about the fraud allegations and whether he thinks the claims warrant investigation. However, the spokesman told The Columbus Dispatch that fraud “is something that is unfortunately the cost of doing business.”
“If people are out there who could not contemplate that people were trying to defraud the public through day care centers, I understand it’s new to them … but it’s been known to the state for decades,” spokesperson Dan Tierney told the outlet before the governor’s statement. “So therefore, we have robust anti-fraud measures to try and stop this, this is something that is unfortunately the cost of doing business.”
Ohio.News has reached out to DCY for more information.
