Ambassador’s Ties to Controversial Health Care Company
Abukar Dahir Osman, Somalia’s permanent ambassador to the United Nations and current president of the U.N. Security Council, is linked to a health care company in Cincinnati that has faced federal scrutiny due to a Medicaid fraud conviction, according to a statement from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill confirmed the speculation on social media, stating that Osman is associated with Progressive Health Care Services, a home health agency situated in Cincinnati. This agency has a troubling past, with HHS noting previous actions taken against it for Medicaid fraud.
“More to come,” O’Neill mentioned, leaving room for further developments.
Public records from HHS indicate that “Abukar D. Osman” holds the title of president and CEO at Progressive Health Care Services Inc., located on Boudinot Avenue. Attempts to reach the company for comments were unsuccessful.
HHS didn’t elaborate on the allegations related to Medicaid fraud. For legal reasons, a spokesperson for the Ohio Attorney General’s office said they could neither confirm nor deny any ongoing investigations.
The recent focus on the Somali community in the U.S. comes after various fraud scandals in Minnesota, including a massive scheme involving the nonprofit group Feeding Our Future, which is accused of submitting fake food distribution claims while pocketing federal child nutrition funds. So far, 78 individuals have been charged in connection to this fraud, and many have already pleaded guilty.
Charges have also arisen around other fraudulent activities related to autism programs and housing stabilization services, with estimates suggesting that the Medicaid fraud in Minnesota may have exceeded $9 billion. Interestingly, data shows that around 89% of defendants in these cases are of Somali descent. Yet, some, like Minnesota state Rep. Kristen Robbins, highlight that the Somali community has produced some outstanding whistleblowers.
Many Somali refugees flee to the U.S. to escape a prolonged civil war, facing challenges such as piracy and widespread poverty, largely driven by the influence of groups like Al-Shabaab.
Somalia’s Role at the U.N.
In June 2024, Somalia was elected as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for a two-year term. As president for January 2026, Osman is responsible for managing the council’s agenda and leading its meetings.
Efforts to contact the Permanent Mission of Somalia to the U.N. for further insights went unanswered by publication time, and the U.N. itself did not provide any comments on the situation.
