Cuomo
ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is supporting legislation he says will fight fraud in the home health care industry.
Along with Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Cuomo says the New York Certified Aide Registry and Employment Search Act (NY-CARES) will create new protections for those receiving home health care and a public registry of all providers in the state.
"Widespread fraud and corruption" throughout the state uncovered by "Operation Home Alone," Cuomo says, prompted the legislation.
A publicly accessible registry with background information on aides is a critical first step in improving government oversight and ending the fraud in this rapidly growing industry, and I am proud to be working with leaders in both houses of the Legislature to cooperatively address this statewide problem," Cuomo said.
Operation Home Alone has uncovered thousands of fraudulent home health aide certifications, leading to the convictions of dozens of aides and nurses, Cuomo said. Schools that provided false certifications haven't been spared either.
Medicaid requires home health aides complete 75 hours of training. The state's Department of Health does not have the ability to track those who represent themselves as aides, Cuomo said.
From Legal Newsline: Reach John O'Brien via e-mail at john@legalnewsline.com.