ALBANY — State Senate Republicans plan to investigate New York’s costliest-in-the-nation Medicaid system and echoed congressional calls for an independent audit of the $54 billion annual program.
The Senate GOP said it will particularly target accusations of “complacency and inaction” by the state Office of the Medicaid Inspector General under Gov. Cuomo.
The Republicans also said yesterday that New York’s Medicaid program generally needs more continual monitoring and evaluation from outside auditors.
A recent congressional report contended that New York overbilled the federal government by billions of dollars over 20 years.
Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos noted the state has “a multibillion-dollar federal Medicaid waiver hanging in the balance” with the state budget due by April 1.
“We must act quickly to prove that we are working to get our Medicaid system under control.” Skelos said.
Cuomo’s office declined comment on the Senate GOP Medicaid probe.