Federal and state investigators conducted coordinated raids on over a dozen adult day‑care centers in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island as part of a sweeping Medicaid fraud investigation. The operation culminated in the arrest of a Staten Island family that ran one of the centers, accused of billing Medicaid for services rendered to clients who were either dead or never attended.
Scope of the investigation
The raids were carried out by the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Health and Human Services, several New York state agencies and the NYPD. Some locations were entered under court‑ordered warrants, while others received warning letters from authorities. Two of the sites also received an informational visit from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Director Dr. Mehmet Oz, who has been vocal about rooting out abuse in the state’s Social Adult Day Care (SADC) program.
State response
Governor Kathy Hochul, who announced the investigation at a news conference, said she asked Dr. Oz to help “weed out the abuse” in the Medicaid system. Hochul noted that the state’s Health Department has been under scrutiny after a June Justice Department lawsuit alleged it failed to monitor the company that runs New York’s $11 billion home‑health care program. At the time, Hochul called the suit politically motivated.
The governor’s office later clarified that the state is probing more than 100 taxpayer‑funded service providers suspected of involvement in potential fraud or illegal activity. While officials have not disclosed how many providers have been found to be committing fraud, the ongoing investigation signals a heightened focus on protecting vulnerable adults and safeguarding public funds.
National context
The New York probe aligns with a broader federal effort to combat Medicaid fraud nationwide. A news conference in Washington scheduled for Thursday will detail the federal inquiry, which includes a rewards program for tipsters who provide information leading to successful prosecutions.
Medicaid fraud not only drains billions of dollars from a program designed to help low‑income families, seniors and people with disabilities, it also undermines trust in a system that many rely on for essential health services. By targeting fraudulent operators, the administration aims to preserve resources for legitimate providers and the patients who need them.
What’s next?
Authorities have not announced additional arrests, but the investigation remains active. The agencies involved have urged anyone with information about Medicaid abuse to contact the federal hotline or local law‑enforcement officials.
Community leaders and faith‑based organizations have expressed support for the crackdown, emphasizing the importance of protecting seniors and vulnerable adults from exploitation. As the case proceeds, the focus will remain on ensuring accountability and restoring confidence in New York’s health‑care safety net.
Original reporting: Brookhaven News – ABC7 New York — read the source article.
