(NewsNation) — A Maine health services contractor facing fraud allegations from a whistleblower denied the claims and said the former employee never raised concerns during his employment, but records show his manager documented him flagging fraudulent billing.
Gateway Community Services, a Somali American-led organization, issued a press release stating: “These allegations are false. Gateway Community Services maintains strict billing, documentation, and compliance protocols and has cooperated with state oversight agencies.”
The organization said Christopher Bernardini, who spent seven years working for Gateway, “at no point during his employment did he raise any concerns—formal or informal—related to inaccurate billing, fraud, or impropriety.”
Records show manager documented employee flagging fraudulent billing
However, Bernardini’s 2022 performance review directly contradicts that statement. His manager wrote: “Chris always identifies potentially fraudulent EVV claims and billing errors.”
Bernardini alleges Gateway oversaw a system in which false records were filed about client visits and charged taxpayers for services never provided.
“We started getting some clients calling and saying months later that their client owed them hours. They hadn’t come in for these shifts and stuff. But I had a time card for it,” Bernardini told NewsNation. When asked if what he witnessed was fraud, he responded, “Absolutely. No doubt about it.”
Maine state audits found $662,608 overbilling; $537,550 still owed
In April 2024, Bernardini wrote to the Department of Homeland Security claiming possible fraud and seeking whistleblower protection.
Gateway acknowledged on Facebook that “from time to time, the government audits have found errors.” State audits covering 2015-2018 found Gateway overbilled Maine $662,608, and the state issued two formal violation notices to the organization.
Gateway said it paid $125,000 to the state in 2018, but according to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, the state is still trying to recoup $537,550 from the organization.
Maine state reps had close ties to Gateway
Two Somali-American state representatives in Maine have had close ties to Gateway.
Democratic state Rep. Deqa Dhalac previously served as executive director of the organization.
Rep. Yusuf Yusuf wrote in his legislative profile that he worked closely with Gateway, though that reference was removed from his profile last week. Neither representative responded to requests for comment.
Second whistleblower files federal HHS complaint supporting claims
Following Gateway’s public response, a second former employee came forward anonymously to support Bernardini’s allegations and filed a federal complaint with the Department of Health and Human Services.
The Maine Attorney General’s Office said it “is not able to confirm or deny the existence of any investigation.” Gov. Janet Mills has not responded to requests for comment.
The allegations mark the second state after Minnesota to face Medicaid fraud accusations involving organizations serving Somali immigrant communities. In Minnesota, 86 people have been indicted in connection with over $1 billion in fraudulent billing through child nutrition programs.