"In partnership with a number of key state agencies, we have made significant progress in developing opportunities and solutions to eliminate fraud and wasteful spending. Our Administration will use this task force to increase anti-fraud collaboration across agencies, and help prevent misuse of taxpayer dollars." -Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. Murray at the Executive Order Signing, March 7, 2011
Background
The Anti-Fraud, Waste and Abuse Task Force was created by the Governor's Executive Order #528 on March 7, 2011. The Task Force provides an exchange of information, inter-agency collaboration and the creation of common goals for agencies charged with combating fraud and abuse. It also serves to identify potential targets for fraud and abuse in public assistance programs and to assess and formulate best practice standards for prevention strategies.
Lt. Governor Murray serves as the chair of the Task Force, which consists of the following members or their designees: the Attorney General, the Inspector General, the State Comptroller and the Auditor. The Executive Office of Administration and Finance staffs the Task Force.
The Executive Order creating the Task Force includes the establishment of a uniform consent clause to be included in all public assistance applications. This clause will require the applicant to grant authorization for the provider agency to data-match with agencies in an effort to determine and verify income and assets during the application process.
Mission of the Task Force
The mission and goals of the Task Force are to:
- Provide a forum for exchange of information among state agencies actively involved in combating fraud, waste and abuse by vendors and recipients.
- Identify potential targets for collective anti-fraud efforts, such as public benefits programs.
- Assess existing investigative and enforcement methods in Massachusetts and other jurisdictions to formulate standards for best practices among state agencies in identifying and preventing fraud, waste and abuse.
- Engage in public outreach to:
- Encourage the public to report evidence of fraud, waste and abuse, and
- Reassure the public, and those doing business with the state, about
efforts to safeguard the integrity of state programs.
Subcommittees of the Task Force
The Task Force has created two Subcommittees to study various aspects of fraud and abuse. The subcommittees' present updates to the Task Force at monthly meetings.
Subcommittees include:
- Provider Subgroup
- Eligibility Subgroup
Contact Us
If you need more information about the Anti-Fraud, Waste and Abuse Task Force and its activities, please contact:
Office of Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. Murray
State House, Suite 360
Boston, MA 02133
617-725-4005
ltgovoffice@state.ma.us
