Rep. Quam Statement on OLA Performance Audit of DHS Behavioral Health Administration Grants

St. Paul – Rep Duane Quam (R-Byron) released the following statement following The Office of the Legislative Auditor’s Financial Audit Division (OLA) releasing the performance audit for the Department of Human Services: Behavioral Health Administration Grants. 

DHS not only didn’t comply with normal required procedures for grant oversite, nor have adequate internal controls over grant funds, it falsified documentation. These are the same programs as a previous audit done in 2021, during Walz’s 3rd year. Another four years later under Walz, four of the same findings were still not addressed. There were multiple personnel that falsified, back dated, and generated faked documents for the audit.

“That’s not human error; they were either ordered or trained to falsify documents,” said Rep. Quam. “For years I’ve talked to the commissioners in these audits about having a database of entities suspected of fraud. This commissioner said she had looked at the shared database but couldn’t tell me how many that received any of the hundreds of grants, were flagged for previous fraud?” 

“This audit is yet another example of how serious problems at DHS, have become pervasive in many agencies. When an agency fails to comply with standard and required procedures and repeats violations; it’s clear taxpayers are not getting the oversight or accountability they deserve. The huge loss of funds is unacceptable, but the worst tragedy is that people in need, are not getting the help and support they require.” said Rep. Quam. “This audit makes it clear that the administration has ignored multiple audit recommendations, and hasn’t taken the steps to prevent fraud. Thus deigning people in need, the help they require, and deserve.”