Harrisburg – The Senate Health and Human Services Committee approved two bills today that would prevent waste, fraud and abuse in the state’s public assistance programs, said Sen. Scott Martin (R-13).
“Cracking down on fraud and abuse in our state’s public assistance programs ensures these critical services reach residents who truly need them,” Martin said. “The taxpayers I represent deserve to know their money isn’t being wasted on bad actors who want to defraud the system and steal benefits from families in need.”
Martin co-authored Senate Bills 1121 and 1124 with Sen. Dave Argall (R-29) last month in an effort to guarantee taxpayer dollars aren’t wasted providing fraudulent Medical Assistance or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Plan (SNAP) benefits.
SB 1121 would require the Department of Human Services (DHS) to verify wage records filed by employers and registered with the Department of Revenue against recipient rolls to ensure eligibility for services. SB 1124 would require DHS to verify no death certificates have been filed with the Bureau of Vital Statistics for beneficiaries.
The bills now move to the full Senate for consideration.
CONTACT: Terry Trego, 717-787-6535