State Auditor Visits Medford, Talks Education and Health Care Fraud

A whole lot has changed in the State Auditor's office since Suzanne Bump took it over in January.

Bump addressed members of the Medford Chamber of Commerce in a luncheon Wednesday at restaurant in Medford Square.

About 50 auditors were let go and about 20 new ones were hired, Bump said. The state began to take a hard look on special education spending and medicaid spending.

The auditor's office has found about $4.3 million in dental fraud alone this year.

"Some providers were billing for services they never performed, that's obviously horrible, but in some cases they were billing for services they rendered unnecessarily," Bump said. "Little kids, otherwise healthy little kids, were being subjected to multiple unnecessary X-rays just so these dental providers could increase their billing."

Bump said her office will move forward by checking up on tax breaks given to businesses.

"I want to know - What tax breaks should be expanded and what should be repealled," she said.