NEW YORK (VINnews) — The head of the federal agency overseeing Medicaid said Sunday that New York’s $124 billion program is burdened by fraud and waste, with investigators reviewing parts of the system.
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said in a radio interview that questionable providers are costing taxpayers significant sums and undermining care for vulnerable residents.
He said fraudulent activity “strips resources” from the system and ultimately harms those who depend on it.
New York’s Medicaid program covers more than 6.8 million residents and funds services including hospital care, nursing homes and home-based assistance.
Past federal reviews have identified concerns in specific programs, including transportation services and consumer-directed home care, where auditors cited substantial improper payments.
Programs expanded during the administration of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo have continued under Gov. Kathy Hochul.
A spokesperson for Hochul said the state has enacted reforms aimed at eliminating waste and improving oversight, adding that officials remain focused on safeguarding healthcare access while addressing fraud and abuse.
No formal enforcement actions were announced in connection with the latest comments.
You obviously dont understand nursing home medicaid reimbursement to make that comment. It is also audited annually.
Just wait a year till the work requirements kick in and everyone will be kicked off
It is clear that much of the provider fraud stems from categories of providers that have little to lose if caught. Few Dr’s are going to endanger their license but any provider of transportation or home services is not risking losing something they spent years earning. Years ago I worked in a building where once a week there was a line waiting for the sneaker Dr. Every patient earned a pair of name brand sneakers.
The commenters here show not only a lack of empathy, but questionable intelligence. Their malicious and likely unfounded accusations only serve to endanger a program benefitting millions of honest people who cannot afford health insurance. Many of these are in the frum community. Think before you write. Mehmet Oz is a political hack.