State Auditors Meet with Federal Partners to Discuss Minimizing Improper Payments
States Uniquely Situated to Help
Section: NASACT


What Can Be Done?

The meeting concluded with the notion that more can be done by all levels of government to address the issue and that state auditors are uniquely situated to help. More information on this new initiative will be sent to NASACT members as the effort moves forward.














State auditors representing states across the country met on November 30 with the U.S. Government Accountability Office, U.S. Office of Management and Budget and several other federal agencies to discuss current efforts to reduce improper payments and how state auditors can play a pivotal role in tackling the issue. Among the programs discussed were Medicaid Managed Care and Unemployment Insurance. 
 
Daryl Purpera, Louisiana legislative auditor, discussed the work his office is undertaking to address Medicaid Improper Payments, and Massachusetts State Auditor Suzanne Bump explained a new data analytics tool developed by her office to address systemic deficiencies at MassHealth.
 
The U.S. Department of Treasury also discussed a new pilot they are launching involving States and the Federal "Do Not Pay" database. More information on the pilot will be available soon.
 
The meeting concluded with the notion that more can be done by all levels of government to address the issue and that state auditors are uniquely situated to help.
 
More information on this new initiative will be sent to NASACT members as the effort moves forward. Questions may be directed to Cornelia Chebinou or Sherri Rowland.

NASACT members participating in the meeting included:
  • Arizona: Debra Davenport, Auditor General (attending by phone)
  • California: Elaine Howle, State Auditor, and Margarita Fernandez, Chief, Public Affairs (attended by phone)
  • Georgia: Roger Boyd, Director of IT Services, representing Greg Griffin, State Auditor
  • Louisiana: Daryl Purpera, Legislative Auditor
  • Massachusetts: Suzanne Bump, State Auditor, and Kenneth Woodland, Deputy Auditor
  • Michigan: Doug Ringler, Auditor General, and Laura Hirst, Deputy Auditor General and Director of Audit Operations
  • North Carolina: Beth Wood, State Auditor
  • Ohio: Robert Hinkle, Deputy Auditor and Kristi Erlewine, Chief Auditor, representing Dave Yost, Auditor of State
  • Utah: Jon Johnson, Financial Audit Director (attending by VTC) representing John Dougall, State Auditor