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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!["Even with the tax relief we successfully achieved as part of the current state budget, we have to keep taking actions like this one for family farmers continuing to struggle with high costs and an overall tough economy,” said Senator O'Mara, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee.](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/omarafarmer_homepage_0.jpg?itok=dw-tR4Qo)
![“We’re grateful for this state funding that will assist local organizations devoted to the arts, culture and history," said Senator O'Mara.](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/rockwellmuseum_newweb.jpg?itok=LPpwWdYy)
![“Farming has been a mainstay of upstate New York’s culture and economy for centuries and it remains the backbone of many of our communities. But the challenges and the competition are tougher than ever,” said Senator O'Mara, who has been a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee since 2011.](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/omara_cover_farmer3_homepage.png?itok=a4eI3CeC)