AUGUSTA (WGME) — A Maine woman recently received more than 130 copies of the same letter from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) after renewing her MaineCare credentials.<\/p>\n
It’s a mailing the agency now says it\u2019s reviewing.<\/p>\n
Brenda Caouette, a licensed therapist who contracts through Child Development Services, says the flood of mail came just after she renewed her credentials to continue billing through MaineCare, the state\u2019s Medicaid program.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the same exact letter, every time,\u201d Caouette said, standing next to a pile of 137 envelopes that had overtaken her kitchen counter.<\/p>\n
At first, she thought it might have been a mistake at the post office or some sort of junk mail. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey had to use rubber bands on them to hold them all in,” Caouette said. \u201cI don’t think there could have been another piece of mail in my mailbox.\u201d<\/p>\n
But upon seeing the return address from DHHS, she realized it was official state correspondence. Out of curiosity, and concern, she opened a few.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I opened three of them, because I didn\u2019t want to open all 137,\u201d Caouette said. <\/p>\n
Each one said the same thing: that her credential renewal had been approved.<\/p>\n
Caouette says she\u2019s renewed her credentials before and only received one notification. This time, she couldn\u2019t understand why the approval was sent in bulk, and at such a cost.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll the same thing over and over,” Caouette said. “All the postage, all the time spent and saying exactly the same thing.” <\/p>\n
With current stamp prices, the mailings alone would have cost more than $75.<\/p>\n
After receiving no explanation from DHHS when she reached out last week, Caouette contacted the CBS13 I-Team<\/a>.<\/p>\n When we followed up with the agency, a spokesperson said they have not received any other reports of similar issues.<\/p>\n In a statement, DHHS told us:<\/p>\n \u201cWe are looking into what might have triggered this duplicative mailing to this provider so that we can prevent it from happening again.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n While she\u2019s glad the situation is being looked into, Caouette hopes it leads to better efficiency in the future.<\/p>\n \u201cI just wish the system went toward something beneficial,\u201d Caouette said. \u201cThis is not beneficial to anybody.\u201d<\/p>\n DHHS says anyone who has received duplicate mailings like this should contact the agency\u2019s Provider Services division at mainecareprovider@gainwelltechnologies.com or by calling 1-866-690-5585. <\/p>\n