![Senator Headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/4_3_small/public/02-10-15_official_hs_omara-hs-040_0.jpg?itok=gJ9N77KJ)
TAXPAYERS BEWARE
Thomas F. O'Mara
February 23, 2015
![](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/800-586-11A_25_0.jpg?itok=UOtc1jpz)
A mid-January report from the state comptroller’s office found that the state Department of Health (DOH) wrongly paid more than 29,000 pharmacy claims, worth nearly $1 million, for thousands of Medicaid recipients already covered by managed care plans.
And just last week, a second comptroller’s report found that the DOH failed to collect an estimated $120 million in available rebates from prescription drug makers.
These are the findings that drive state taxpayers crazy.
For more than a decade, various reports have highlighted wasteful Medicaid spending. Time and again, New York’s system has been characterized as one of the nation's most expensive and wasteful, continually plagued by rip-offs and scams.
Ten years ago, Medicaid spending was roughly $42 billion annually. Now, the cost is about to increase to $60 a year.
Share this Article or Press Release
Newsroom
Go to Newsroom![Senator O'Mara](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/2023/07/27/capitol-column-homepage.jpg?itok=-DcaPGYw)
![Senator O'Mara offers his weekly perspective on many of the key challenges and issues facing the Legislature.](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/2023/07/17/capitol-column-homepage.jpg?itok=xtHBjp8f)
![“Ensuring access to high-speed internet is one of New York government’s fundamental responsibilities," said Senator O'Mara.](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/2023/07/10/budgethearing-economicdev-candid1-homepage_1.jpg?itok=5hii0vDy)