North Dakota Audit Finds Millions in Questionable Public Assistance Payments

A state audit of the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services identified seven areas of concern involving millions of dollars in questionable payments and inadequate oversight of public assistance programs. The audit, which covered the two-year period ending June 30, 2025, found that over $1.4 million was paid to behavioral health providers without meeting minimum engagement standards. The department also lacked procedures to prevent payments to providers who failed to meet these requirements.

The audit uncovered problems ranging from incomplete background checks for in-home care workers to poor monitoring of claims. Furthermore, the department spent approximately $4.7 million on software intended to verify in-home care visits but was not using the information to monitor accuracy.