MADISON—Governor Walker announced today that the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), an office within the Department of Health Services, was releasing a new public assistance fraud hotline. Those who suspect anyone of fraudulent activity in public assistance programs should call the Office of the Inspector General Fraud Hotline free of charge at 1-877-865-3432.

 

“It’s important for the state to be good stewards of the taxpayer’s money,” said Governor Walker.  “We must make sure that citizens receive the help they need while preventing waste, fraud and abuse.  The Inspector General’s office and this hotline will help accomplish these goals.”

 

“The hotline makes it easier to report suspected fraud directly to my office,” said Inspector General Alan White.  “We want to hear from anyone, including public employees, who have information concerning public assistance fraud in Wisconsin health and nutrition programs. My office processes and reviews all of the tips we receive and we take the appropriate action while working with the Department of Justice and local law enforcement if we find violations of state and federal laws.”

 

The Department of Health Services manages many of the state’s largest public assistance programs, including Medicaid, FoodShare, the Women Infants and Children (WIC) supplemental food program and the state portion of Supplemental Security Income (SSI).  Created last month, the OIG allows for better coordination of DHS fraud detection efforts, implementation of fraud prevention budget initiatives and any final recommendations made by the Governor’s Commission on Waste, Fraud and Abuse.

 

The OIG investigates fraud tips for any type of abuses of public resources such as: