Maine officials have halted Medicaid payments to a Somali-operated charity following multiple audits that revealed over $1 million in potential fraud.
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) found that Gateway Community Services billed the state $1,068,598 from March 2021 to December 2022, allegedly for “interpretation services” intended for Somali immigrants, according to reports.
This isn’t the first time Gateway has faced scrutiny. The organization allegedly overbilled by more than $600,000 between 2015 and 2018, and it remains under investigation for additional irregularities identified in a third audit completed in 2024.
The suspension of funds has attracted attention. Representative James Comer of Kentucky, the leading Republican on the House Oversight Committee, criticized the charity, asserting that Gateway was engaging in welfare fraud.
Founded in 2015 by Abdullahi Ali, a Somali immigrant, Gateway Services is now under further scrutiny as Ali prepares to run for president of Jubaland, an autonomous region in southern Somalia, in 2024—all while the charity has been accused of misappropriating state funds.
Interestingly, Gateway is not solely operated by Somali immigrants. The agency has connections to several notable Democrats in Maine, including Democratic state Senator Chloe Maxmin, as well as strategists B.J. McCallister and Joanne D’Arcangelo, the former of whom contributed to Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign and served as the chief of staff for Maine’s Democratic Senate President, Troy Jackson.
Maine Senate Minority Leader Matt Harrington, a Republican, has expressed concerns regarding Gateway and possible fraud in MaineCare since May. “This is taxpayer money, and we should be investigating this. I’m relieved that the federal government is finally getting involved, though I believe it highlights the lack of action from Maine’s own leaders,” Harrington remarked.
