A newly formed coalition of residential care agencies is pushing back on accusations of widespread MaineCare fraud that it says have unfairly targeted all immigrant-run providers.

Maine Immigrant Business Coalition president Landry Kwizera said he wants to highlight positive contributions to the Maine economy, and work with lawmakers to ensure compliance with state rules.

“Establish a good relationship with policymakers,” he said. “They can know that [we are] people who are immigrants and who are willing to do business the right way.”

Kwizera said since the state suspended MaineCare payments to provider Gateway Community Services late last year after an audit found the agency had overbilled the program for $1.7 million, there’s been an effort to paint all immigrant-run agencies as fraudulent.

“We need to see a way we can shed light on the positive side of immigrants and their contributions to Maine,” Kwizera said.

State and national Republicans have accused Gov. Janet Mills of ignoring MaineCare fraud, while her administration says it has increased oversight and scrutiny of providers in recent years.

This story appears through a media partnership with Maine Public.