The state auditor says the Massachusetts Medicaid program violated its own rules by paying more than $15 million to providers of adult foster care.
Auditor Suzanne Bump said Thursday that starting in 2013 MassHealth sent a letter to those providers to inform them despite guidelines to the contrary, it would pay for services for people living in long-term care facilities.
Adult foster care programs help elderly and disabled MassHealth members with daily living activities, including eating and dressing, so they can continue to live independently and not in long-term care facilities.
The audit found 80 percent of the improper payments were made to seven adult foster care providers at 20 rest homes. One received more than $1.3 million in improper payments.
MassHealth did not immediately return a call for comment.
