GOVERNOR PATERSON ANNOUNCES $551 MILLION IN MEDICAID RECOVERIES FOR NEW YORK STATE

(NYSGOV) Governor David A. Paterson today joined New York State’s Medicaid Inspector General (MIG) James G. Sheehan in announcing that New York State has recovered more than double the requirements for recovery of improperly paid Medicaid funds. Under the Federal-State Health Reform Partnership (F-SHRP) – a federal program that sets requirements for Medicaid fraud and abuse recoveries – the federal government set and New York agreed to an ambitious recovery target of $215 million for federal fiscal year 2008. New York State recovered $551 million – more than doubling the Medicaid fund recovery targets set by F-SHRP. This number combines reported collections identified through the fraud and abuse efforts of a number of New York State agencies.

“Today’s announcement demonstrates that New York State is leading the way in monitoring and identifying Medicaid fraud, waste and abuse – all while maintaining the integrity of the program for those who truly need services,“ said Governor Paterson. “As the economic outlook of both the State and nation remain in peril, achieving milestones in areas such as Medicaid recoveries takes a significant first step forward in putting New York back on the right track to economic recovery.“