August 19, MarylandReporter.com – (Maryland) Health department failed to control birth certificates, auditors find, citing possible fraud. The Maryland Office of Legislative Audits issued a report August 18 saying it found the Maryland State Health Department has continued to fail to control issuance of birth certificates, leading to potential fraud. The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has been unable to verify that birth and death certificates contain valid information, that certificates were only issued to the right people, and that payments for certificates were correctly collected. The state attorney general is investigating an employee in one local health department's office for potential fraud. A legislative auditor said that serious problems with vital records have been found — and not corrected — in departmental audits since 1999. "These documents can be used for other things," he said. "This is not just about the money involved. There is potential for immigration fraud." Source: [/url]http://baltimore.citybizlist.com/1/2011/8/19/Health-Department-Failed-To-Control-Birth-Certificates-Auditors-Find-Citing-Possible-Fraud--By-Megan-Poinski.aspx[/url]


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