A state audit released Wednesday found excessive wages and nepotism within the office that administers NCTracks and other computer systems for the North Carolina Medicaid program.
The office is within the state Department of Health and Human Services, and state auditor Beth Wood found it wasted at least $1.6 million.
The audit shows that over the past few years, about a dozen employees received excessive wages and overtime pay. Some of those employees were either related to office director Angie Sligh or went to church with her.
The audit notes that Sligh's daughter, ex-husband and ex-husband's wife all worked in the office.
Sligh retired in February, and the Department of Health and Human Services has fired at least five employees in question. However, health leaders disagree with the auditor's finding that the department should develop better policies for administrative oversight.