Alaska’s Department of Health owes the federal government $11.9 million because it overpaid food stamp benefits last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has informed the state.
In a Friday letter to Department of Health Commissioner Heidi Hedberg, USDA Acting Under Secretary Kumar Chandran said the state’s payment error rate has been too high for too long. Chandran said the state could incur an additional penalty if its overpayment rate remains high for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
“Alaska’s proper administration of SNAP is essential to ensuring the Program operates efficiently, effectively, and with integrity,” the letter said…