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This audit was conducted to review performance measures and cost-effectiveness of economic development programs. The audit found that the department spent 22% of its small business assistance pandemic relief funds and can improve its business contact information. Further, business attraction and retention activities can be more effectively evaluated, and performance measures and metrics could be better used to evaluate outcomes

Based on our audit of the State’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, we reported internal control weaknesses and instances of noncompliance over financial reporting. For example, the Department of Economic Security did not put all critical identity-verification or other anti-fraud measures in place before paying federal CARES Act unemployment insurance benefits and reported it paid over $4 billion in fraudulent identity theft unemployment insurance benefits claims through September 4, 2021, when the benefits ended.

The Department of Justice announced today criminal charges against 138 defendants, including 42 doctors, nurses, and other licensed medical professionals, in 31 federal districts across the United States for their alleged participation in various health care fraud schemes that resulted in approximately $1.4 billion in alleged losses.