State Auditor Mike Foley says the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services cost the state more than $1.8 million when it failed to seek federal reimbursement in a timely manner.
Foley's office announced Tuesday that the issue came to light when his auditing team examined a state adoption assistance program managed by the department.
Auditors found that the department paid for program expenses but then failed to seek federal reimbursement during a five-year grace period.
State auditors say the department has failed to collect more than $1.8 million from the federal government relating to child welfare and protection
As a result, auditors say the costs were pushed onto state taxpayers.
