NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. (WKBW) — On Friday, New York Attorney General Letitia James ordered 78 medical transportation companies and providers of transportation services to Medicaid recipients in and around Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse to immediately cease and desist conducting prohibited group rides.
According to a news release issued by the state AG's office, the move follows a statewide investigation that revealed dozens of transportation providers failed to follow the state’s requirements prohibiting medical transportation providers from conducting medical transports with more than one occupant per vehicle. The mandate is in place to help comabt the spread of COVID-19.
“We have invested a particularly high level of trust in our medical services providers during this crisis,” said Attorney General James. “For these companies to continue to conduct group medical transport rides in the face of an explicit prohibition during the unprecedented outbreak of a highly contagious disease, is simply and completely unacceptable. We take these violations very seriously, and my office will deploy any legal means necessary to stop providers from endangering their patients and the general public."
Number of companies in each region that the Office of the Attorney General found were in violation of the state’s orders:
· Buffalo – 31 companies
· Rochester – 17 companies
· Syracuse – 15 companies
· Albany – 15 companies
If you believe you have information concerning a violation, please contact the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit’s Hotline or call 833-249-8499.
