Overview
- MaineCare suspended payments to Gateway Community Services after issuing a notice citing "credible allegations of fraud," according to state communications reported by the Bangor Daily News.
- Rep. Deqa Dhalac said she worked at Gateway for less than a year, had no involvement in billing practices, and supports investigations into potential misuse of public funds.
- House Republican leaders called for Dhalac’s removal from the Legislature’s budget committee, while Democratic leaders stressed evidence-based inquiries and due process.
- U.S. Rep. James Comer identified Gateway and Dhalac in a letter to the Treasury Department as part of a broader welfare fraud inquiry.
- Public records show Gateway received $28.8 million in MaineCare payments from 2019 to 2024, the state signaled it will seek recovery of more than $1 million from 2021–2022, a whistleblower alleged on-the-job fraud, and the company denied criminal wrongdoing and pledged cooperation.