Nassau works to prevent day care fraud

The Nassau County Department of Social Services will be initiating new monitoring methods to help prevent day care fraud, waste and abuse, County Executive Edward Mangano announced Thursday in a news release.

“The estimate of fraud, waste and abuse in Nassau County may range from $5.4 million to $16 million annually,” he said.

The release said that there will be increased reviews of existing day care benefits, as well as of new applications for benefits, especially for parents who claim to work “off the books.”

The release also said the county would target day care providers to find questionable practices such as billing for perfect attendance over extended periods, weekday billing for school-age children or billing for meals provided when the child was not present.

DSS officials said that, in addition, they will have a new program — the Child Care Time and Attendance System — up and running by July 1.

Photo: Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano