A push for a sweeping audit of New York’s state programs is gaining traction as reports of fraud pile up nationwide.
Sen. Tom O’Mara and other members of the Senate Republican Minority Conference want Gov. Kathy Hochul to order an independent review of how taxpayer dollars get spent, especially in massive programs like Medicaid. They argue New York can’t assume its systems work just because problems surfaced elsewhere.
The call comes after alarming fraud cases in other states, including Minnesota, raised red flags about oversight. O’Mara said New York should take a hard look at itself before similar abuses grow unchecked here.
In a January 2 letter to the governor, Republican senators urged a comprehensive, independent audit of state programs and services. They said New York manages comparable programs involving billions of dollars and should act before problems spiral.
“Given that New York administers comparable programs involving billions of taxpayer dollars, it is imperative that proactive measures be taken to ensure similar abuses are not occurring here,” the letter states.
The lawmakers pointed to a $68 million Medicaid fraud case uncovered by the U.S. Department of Justice involving a Brooklyn adult daycare operator. They said there is little reason to believe the case stands alone.
Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt backed the request, saying the governor should welcome an audit if nothing is wrong. “If nothing is amiss, she shouldn’t be afraid to order the comprehensive, independent audit we are requesting,” Ortt said.
The governor’s office dismissed the request as a “political stunt.” A spokesperson said existing oversight by the state comptroller and inspector general already covers those responsibilities.
O’Mara said that response misses the point. He said he has little confidence in self-review by agencies under one-party control and pointed to past failures, including the handling of COVID nursing home deaths.
Recent reports, he noted, show the scope of the problem. They include $2.6 billion in Medicaid premiums paid for people who do not live in New York, $13 million in fraud tied to medical transportation, and $7 million in fraudulent billing.
Medicaid alone costs taxpayers about $120 billion each year, nearly half of the state budget. Watchdogs have warned about abuse, fraud, and waste for decades, O’Mara said, yet little has changed.
He argued an independent audit would identify problems and restore public confidence. Taxpayers, he said, deserve proof that their money gets spent legally and responsibly.
O’Mara called on the governor to make the audit a top priority in the new year and move quickly. He said waste, fraud, and abuse should never get shrugged off.
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