The OMIG At Work: A Year Of Record Recoveries?

The New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG) has announced that it has recovered $851 million in Medicaid funds for 2013.  If accurate, this amount will have set a new record (the prior record is claimed to have been $468 million for 2012) for the OMIG in a state where over $53 billion is spent annually on Medicaid. According to the Daily News, more than one half of the $851 million in recoveries, $496 million, originated from a settled dispute with the federal government about whether Medicare (vs. Medicaid) should have been billed for certain home health services. If the $851 million figure is reduced by the amount of the federal settlement, the amount recovered by the OMIG becomes $355 million for 2013.

Governor Cuomo issued a press release on the OMIG recoveries. “With more than $851 million recovered from Medicaid abuses in 2013 alone – the most in the State’s history – New York is truly leading the nation in fighting fraud and protecting taxpayer dollars, Governor Cuomo said. “Our focus on cleaning up the Medicaid program is showing record-breaking results, and OMIG’s efforts serve as a role model for other states to follow. Eliminating this kind of waste is vital to transforming New York’s healthcare system, and this year’s tremendous amount of recoveries shows that we are well on our way to building a healthier and fairer New York.

“Fighting Medicaid fraud is a cornerstone of our efforts, and anyone who steals from Medicaid should know that we will find them. OMIG is proud of this record result, said Medicaid Inspector General James C. Cox. “This is an extraordinary accomplishment, and an historical achievement. Through dedication and perseverance, our staff not only met but exceeded all expectations in recoveries for the year. Governor Cuomo’s support was crucial to our efforts.

The OMIG’s mission is “to enhance the integrity of the New York State Medicaid program by preventing and detecting fraudulent, abusive, and wasteful practices within the Medicaid program and recovering improperly expended Medicaid funds while promoting a high quality of patient care.

For more information, please contact the author, David R. Ross, who served as Acting New York State Medicaid Inspector General under governors Pataki and Spitzer, as well as General Counsel, Deputy Medicaid Inspector General, and Director of Audits and Investigations for the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG). You may call David at 518.462.5601 or e-mail him at dross@oalaw.com