![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 shares his weekly perspective on issues facing New York State government. Senator](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/article/main-image/a2d68078-fc6a-4a51-8ca8-d9ff8b058412.jpeg?itok=N2KRfw54)
!["The difference is that this one will cost taxpayers millions of dollars so that Hochul can try to call it an ‘outside, independent’ investigation. Far from it," said Senator O'Mara. senator](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/article/main-image/1cc01af2-27be-403c-ac72-426c086c4434.jpeg?itok=HbIvDYtR)
!["It’s a one-party vision for spending billions of dollars that’s teeing up a next generation of hard-hit taxpayers and unaffordable living in New York State," said Senator O'Mara. Senator O'Mara](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/article/main-image/affordability-candid.jpg?itok=cfcwj9J_)