Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt, along with members of the Senate Republican Conference, sent a letter to Dr. Mehmet Oz, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, inviting him to Albany to discuss mutual concerns of fraud, waste and abuse within New York’s staggering $124 billion Medicaid program.

“We believe the best way to strengthen the State’s Medicaid program, and ensure resources are

available to those that truly need them, is to root out waste, fraud and abuse. We welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss these issues further and explore ways the state and federal government can work together to restore accountability to New York’s Medicaid

program,” the letter reads.

Last week, Dr. Oz announced he was probing New York’s Medicaid program and sent a letter questioning Governor Kathy Hochul on her efforts to rein in costs and prevent fraud.

“New York’s Medicaid program has become a $124 billion black hole with virtually no accountability and no end in sight,” said state Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay. “While Governor Hochul looks the other way, hardworking New York taxpayers are footing the bill for one of the most wasteful, corrupt, and poorly managed Medicaid programs in the country. Dr. Oz is asking exactly the right questions, and we are ready to work with him to find out exactly how deep this goes. The days of writing blank checks and hoping no one notices are over.”