New York state provided Medicaid for the dead, audit shows


New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli speaks during a news conference in Albany, N.Y. (Mike Groll | The Associated Press)

By The Associated Press
on October 29, 2015 at 11:24 AM, updated October 29, 2015 at 11:25 AM

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Auditors say flaws in the eligibility process in the state health exchange resulted in New York enrolling 21 dead people for Medicaid while continuing government-funded health coverage for 333 others who had died.

The state comptroller's office says its auditors found overpayments of $3.4 million for the year starting Oct. 1, 2013.
That includes $325,000 for the deceased.

Auditors say the Department of Health also issued multiple identification numbers to some recipients, resulting in Medicaid overpayments of $2.8 million.

Medicaid covers about 6 million New Yorkers and costs $60 million annually.

The Health Department says it's been awaiting a new federal system to verify deaths. It confirmed 321 people cited in the audit were dead, four are still alive and it's checking the other 29.

The department notes state enforcement efforts in 2011-2012 recovered $1.73 billion.

http://www.syracuse.com/state/index....dit_shows.html