State Senators Accuse Hochul of Retaliation in Medicaid Investigation

ALBANY – State lawmakers are raising concerns that Governor Kathy Hochul is retaliating against them as they continue to look into growing accusations that her administration manipulated contracts for an $11 billion Medicaid home health care program.

State Senators Jim Skoufis (D-Orange) and Gustavo Rivera (D-Bronx) are set to send a formal request to Hochul’s administration on Tuesday, asking for evidence related to alleged bid-rigging and other misconduct surrounding changes to this significant consumer assistance program.

While lawmakers were gearing up to pursue this investigation last week, Hochul made the unusual move of vetoing a number of Skoufis’ bills. These included a bill aimed at compensating pharmacies that provide abortion consultation services.

Skoufis, who took many by surprise with his strong criticisms of Hochul during this year’s budget negotiations, claims that the veto was a direct response to their push for an inquiry.

An August Senate hearing involving the State Department of Health and Public Partnership LLC, which oversees the CDPAP program, produced evidence suggesting Hochul’s administration is trying to downplay oversight of the contractor.

Skoufis co-chaired the hearing alongside Rivera.

In a joint statement, the senators declared, “In light of the unsatisfactory testimony and questionable supplementary testimony submitted by Health and Public Partnership LLC, we have submitted requests for documents and information to both DOH Secretary James McDonald and PPL CEO Miki Kapur.”

The focus of their inquiry centers on accusations of bid-rigging. The senators are looking for evidence of communications between PPL and the Department of Health, reports of wrongdoing, details about the program’s workforce and its enrollees, as well as financial information related to the transition to a new management company.

“The hearing was the beginning of our review. We aim to gather answers until the Senate fully grasps the events leading up to the transition, how the program currently supports its users and employees, and whether it is delivering on promised savings,” the statement added.

The DOH and PPL have been asked to provide documents voluntarily, but the oversight commission maintains the power to issue subpoenas if necessary.

So far, the investigation has compelled Public Partnership LLC to admit that one of its officials misled lawmakers while under oath, claiming he had no prior interactions with Hochul’s administration regarding the CDPAP contract.

On the other hand, Health Commissioner Jim McDonald insists that the contract with Public Partnership LLC was legally established.