RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Virginia’s legislative watchdog agency says inadequate review systems and delays in processing have left the state vulnerable to providing millions of dollars in Medicaid benefits to people who aren’t eligible. Staff members of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission unveiled the first part of their two-year review of the state’s Medicaid program to lawmakers Monday. The commission says the state isn’t checking to determine whether applicants are telling the truth when they report that they have no income. The report says the state is also often failing to promptly determine whether someone’s Medicaid benefits should be renewed, allowing people who are no longer eligible to continue getting benefits for months. The commission estimates that caused Virginia to spend up to $38 million on ineligible recipients in fiscal year 2014.
