Metro

DiNapoli nur$es grudge

ALBANY — Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli yesterday called for tighter controls on a program to increase nursing care for extremely sick kids after his office discovered at least three participating health-care companies had pocketed more than half the taxpayer money they received.

Audits by the comptroller found the firms had together kept $1.54 million of the $3 million the state gave them over a two-year period to boost the pay of nurses who care for children.

“The fact that nursing-service agencies are keeping much of this money to boost their own bottom lines is unacceptable,” DiNapoli said.

The program is funded through the state’s $45 billion Medicaid program. The agencies — Pioneer Homecare Corp. of The Bronx, Stafkings Healthcare Systems of Binghamton and Jos-El Inc. of Valley Stream, LI — told auditors they kept the money to pay for program expenses and increased fringe-benefit costs.