NY lawmakers claim Hochul is targeting them for ongoing probe into alleged $11B Medicaid program scandal

ALBANY – State lawmakers are accusing Gov. Kathy Hochul of retaliating against them for continuing a probe into mounting claims her administration rigged the contract for a massive $11 billion Medicaid homecare program.

State Sens. Jim Skoufis (D-Orange) and Gustavo Rivera (D-Bronx) plan to send a letter Tuesday demanding Hochul’s administration turn over evidence surrounding bid rigging and other allegations centering on her overhaul of the $11 billion per year Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program.

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

The Hudson Valley lawmaker, who shocked many with his full-throated attacks on Hochul during this year’s budget votes, accused the Democratic governor of vetoing his bills as payback for pushing the probe.

A state Senate hearing in August featuring the state Department of Health and Public Partnerships, LLC, — the firm tapped to largely manage the CDPAP program — provided more evidence that Hochul’s administration wanted to steer oversight to the company.

Skoufis co-chaired the hearing with Rivera.

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

The senators are requesting communications between PPL and DOH, reports of fraud, information about workers and enrollees in the program, and evidence about the “financial foundations of the transition” process to the new firm — with the bulk of the investigation focusing on the bid-rigging allegations, they said.

“The hearing was the start of our review … to pursue answers until the Senate has a thorough understanding of the actions that preceded the transition, how the program currently serves clients and employees, and if the program is achieving the promised savings,” the statement continues.

DOH and PPL are being asked to turn over the documents voluntarily, but the committee behind the investigation retains subpoena power.

The lawmakers’ probe has already forced Public Partnerships, LLC, to admit one of its reps lied under oath when she said the firm hadn’t communicated with Hochul’s administration prior to bidding on the CDPAP contract.

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