CONFIRMED The Guard is Changing: James Cox is Leaving OMIG’s Top Spot

Earlier this week, we blogged about postings found on job-search sites Monster.com and indeed.com advertising that New York State is now accepting applications for the Medicaid Inspector General, the head of the state agency charged with combating fraud, waste, and abuse in the State’s Medicaid program.

Today we received confirmation that James C. Cox, the current New York State Medicaid Inspector General, is stepping down.  In a letter to agency staff, Cox wrote:

 Three years ago Governor Cuomo appointed me to the position of Medicaid Inspector General. My charge was to take the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General in a new direction – one that would strengthen the work of the office.

I knew full well that I had an important job to do. Recognizing that we have now reached the completion phase of this work, I have made the decision to conclude my tenure as Medicaid Inspector General at the end of 2014.

Until a new Medicaid Inspector General is appointed by Governor Cuomo, First Deputy Medicaid Inspector General Tom Meyer will fill Cox’s position, effective December 3, 2014.

The full text of Cox’s letter to OMIG staff can be found here.

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).