New York lawmakers claim Hochul is targeting them in ongoing investigation into alleged $11 billion Medicaid scandal

ALBANY – State lawmakers are charging Governor Kathy Hochul To retaliate against them for continuing to investigate the growing allegations that their management forged the contract in exchange for a huge sum The $11 billion Medicaid home care program.

state Senator Jim Skoufis (D-Orange) and Gustavo Rivera (D-Bronx) plan to send a letter Tuesday demanding that the Hochul administration turn over evidence surrounding bid rigging and other allegations centered around its $11 billion-a-year overhaul. Consumer directed personal assistance program.

As lawmakers were finalizing plans to move forward with the investigation last week, Hochul took the unusual step of vetoing several of Skoufis’ bills, including one that would reimburse pharmacies for counseling patients about abortion procedures.

The Hudson Valley lawmaker, who shocked many with his violent attacks on Hochul during a budget vote this year, accused the Democratic governor of vetoing bills he introduced as retaliation to push the investigation.

A state Senate hearing in August includes the state Department of Health and Public Partnerships, LLC, the company tapped to largely administer the CDPAP program, provided further evidence that Hochul management wanted to direct oversight to the company.

Skoufis co-chaired the hearing with Rivera.

“Given the unsatisfactory certifications provided by the Department of Health and Public Partnerships LLC…as well as questionable supplemental certifications, we have issued document and information requests to both Department of Health Commissioner James McDonald and PPL CEO Mickey Kapoor,” a joint statement from Skoufis and Rivera said.

The senators are asking for communications between PPL and the Department of Health, fraud reports, information on workers and those enrolled in the program, and evidence about the process “financial underpinnings of the transition” to the new company — with the bulk of the investigation focused on allegations of bid rigging, they said.

“The hearing was the beginning of our review…to pursue answers so that the Senate has a comprehensive understanding of the actions leading up to the transition, how the program currently serves clients and employees, and whether the program is delivering the promised savings,” the statement continues.

The Ministry of Health and PPL are required to voluntarily hand over documents, but the committee behind the investigation retains subpoena power.

An investigation by lawmakers has already forced Public Partnerships, LLC He admitted that one of its representatives lied under oath When she said the company did not communicate with Hochul’s management before bidding on the CDPAP contract.

Meanwhile, Health Commissioner Jim McDonald confirmed that the contract awarded to Public Partnerships, LLC, was done legally.