A new federal report says the Iowa Department of Human Services has failed to adequately guard against fraud in its state-run child care program for the poor.
The inspector general of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued the report Monday. It says the state agency's process of paying claims within the program has left it vulnerable to fraud, waste and abuse. The program provides about $88 million worth of assistance to families each year.
The report estimates that between April 2010 and March 2011, the state agency had paid out $21.7 million in questionable claims.
The state agency agreed with most of the inspector general's recommendations, but said some of the criticisms were unfounded.
