In a dramatic display of federal enforcement, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz personally confronted employees at two New York City senior care centers, challenging their billing practices amid a sweeping crackdown on suspected Medicaid fraud. Accompanied by federal health officials, Oz delivered warning letters to Kent Senior Care and Evergreen Adult Day Care in Flushing, Queens, as part of a larger operation involving the FBI, HHS Office of Inspector General, and NYPD. The letters flagged suspicious billing records, with Oz directly questioning directors about inflated numbers of attendees and services, particularly specialized transportation for wheelchair-bound seniors when few wheelchairs were visibly present. At Kent Senior Care, Oz pointed out apparent discrepancies between the facility’s high billing for constant full occupancy and the visibly lower attendance, noting that sign-in sheets appeared to be collected only after his arrival. Similarly, at Evergreen Adult Day Care, Oz observed significantly fewer seniors than reported, questioned advanced sign-in sheet entries dated in the future, and highlighted concerns about billing for activities like mahjong versus essential medical services. These visits, part of over 80 federal actions across the city, underscore a major initiative to combat alleged fraud estimated to be nearing $1 billion annually, with Oz suggesting organized crime elements may be involved in schemes to exploit taxpayer-funded programs for illicit activities, a situation he stated accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Adapted from: Latest Political News on Fox News
