Sen. Alfond calls for accountability as DHHS tanks food assistance program

AUGUSTA — Senate Democratic Leader Justin Alfond is demanding accountability from DHHS Commissioner Mary Mayhew and Gov. Paul LePage after the Department of Health and Human Services fell to rank last in the nation for its administration of programs meant to feed hungry Mainers.

“While more and more people in our state don’t have enough to eat, the Department is dragging its feet,” said Sen. Alfond. “Maine children and seniors who are playing by the rules and eligible for food assistance are left hungry and waiting because DHHS can’t or won’t do its job.”

In a Dec. 7 letter, the U.S. Department of Agriculture notified DHHS that it faced a potential loss of federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program administration funds. In fiscal year 2014, that funding was roughly $10.2 million.

The letter outlined the Department’s failure to process SNAP applications on time. Those delays mean hungry Mainers miss more meals because of broken DHHS bureaucracy. It detailed the state’s “chronically poor performance” in meeting laws “meant to protect a low-income household’s right to receive nutrition assistance benefits in a timely manner.”

The letter also described DHHS’s failure to adequately address problems in its administration of SNAP, which have been raised again and again by the USDA.

“DHHS has shown a brazen disregard for accountability,” Sen. Alfond said. “They have bristled at those who would hold them responsible for the dangerous conditions at Riverview, the sudden decision to end contracts that provide needed health care services, and now, the failure to administer the SNAP program. Now the state faces a potential multi-million dollar penalty for that mismanagement.”

Sen. Alfond is exploring his options to hold the department accountable and ensure it is fulfilling its mission to serve Maine people.

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