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A MILLION REASONS WHY
Thomas F. O'Mara
June 5, 2015
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Mayors, county executives and other local officials throughout the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions, and statewide, continue to point to Medicaid as their heaviest financial burden.
That's why recent reports are so troubling.
These reports include two audits by the state comptroller’s office continuing to show that despite years of legislative efforts to rid New York’s Medicaid system of abuse, fraud and waste – efforts that included the creation of the Office of Medicaid Inspector General nearly a decade ago – not enough is being done.
In one prominent case earlier this year, nine New York doctors were indicted in Brooklyn as part of a $7-million Medicaid fraud scheme which took advantage of thousands of homeless people by luring them into offices for unnecessary medical testing in exchange for free sneakers.
Recent legislation approved by the Senate would help root out Medicaid abuse, fraud and waste.
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Go to Newsroom![Senator O'Mara (far left) and Assemblyman Palmesano (far right) join participants at the 4th Annual "Sip and Sample" in the Legislative Office Building: NYWIA President Suzy Miles, Lawrence Doolittle (Proprietor, Frontenac Point Vineyard and Estate Winery), John Martini (Owner, Anthony Road Wine Company), Chad Hendrickson (Viticulturalist, Lakewood Vineyards), Sam Filler (Executive Director, New York Wine & Grape Foundation), and Carol Doolittle (Proprietor, Frontenac Point Vineyard and Estate Winery).](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/article/main-image/sipsample_newweb1.jpg?itok=yWW0Ojtr)
![NYWIA President Suzy Hayes said, "’Sip and Sample’ has become one of the favorite events for legislators and their staff because they get the chance to try wonderful New York products while meeting the producers themselves in a festive, informal setting."](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/article/main-image/sipandsample2017_newweb.jpg?itok=mC0ntCj9)
![Senator O’Mara (second from the right, back row) and Senate colleagues participate in the “Take a Bite Out of Lyme Disease” challenge today at the Capitol. Read more about the challenge at http://lymediseasechallenge.org/join-lyme-disease-challenge/.](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/article/main-image/biteoutoflyme_newweb.jpg?itok=nr4Dds17)