NY audit notes $42M in Medicaid overpayments

AP – 1 hr 32 mins ago...

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York auditors say the state Health Department has overpaid nursing homes about $42 million in Medicaid over a 44-month period because many are not collecting money from their clients' income as required.

While many nursing home residents have income from sources including Social Security and pensions, which should be used to offset the cost of care, auditors say local governments sometimes fail to enforce that provision.

New York's Medicaid program has grown from 4.6 million recipients and $43 billion in 2007 to 5.2 million recipients and $53 billion last year.

Federal money pays half, the state 40 percent and localities 10 percent.

The program pays nearly $7 billion for nursing home care of about 121,000 New Yorkers annually.

Health officials say they are taking steps to address the issue.

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