A state watchdog agency will launch a new program to ensure billions of federal aid dollars provided to New Jersey are spent properly.
The Office of the State Comptroller on Thursday announced its new COVID-19 Compliance and Oversight Project, which is meant formalize the comptroller’s role in overseeing federal dollars provided to the state under a series of stimulus bills.
“Our announcement today recognizes the office’s role making sure that state agencies and authorities are doing everything they can to protect federal COVID-19 recovery funds sent to New Jersey to recover from the pandemic,” acting State Comptroller Kevin Walsh said. “The substantial amount of funding at stake — and the importance of the funding to New Jerseyans — means state agencies and authorities must be especially vigilant and have policies and procedures in place that protect the money.”
The new program will be operated by two fulltime staffers, with additional appointments to come at a later date.
Jillian Holmes, a nine-year employee within the comptroller’s office who has investigated Medicaid fraud, and Ianna Khan, an OSC auditor since 2016 within the office’s Medicaid Fraud Division, will make up its initial cohort.
The project will be responsible for monitoring virus recovery programs, ensuring there are procedures in place to detect and prevent fraud, waste and mismanagement of federal funds, training senior state agency staff on methods of preventing fraud and supervising a series of independent monitors that review the state’s use of federal moneys.
It will also coordinate with the COVID-19 Compliance and Oversight Task Force to reduce the risk of fund mismanagement.
“By leveraging OSC’s expertise in procurement, audit, and investigations, we stand ready to ensure that fraud, waste or abuse does not disrupt New Jersey’s recovery,” Walsh said.