Patient recruiter pleads guilty in $3.5 million DME scheme: Marcella Eraifej, a dependenat in the U.S. Department of Justice Medicare Fraud Strike Force case against Jayson Drugs, pled guilty to a one-count indictment on May 20, 2011, at the Eastern District of New York, Central Islip. Eraifej recruited Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries at food banks located in churches in Yonkers to receive "free shoes," ultimately paid for by Medicaid and/or Medicare. OMIG's Division of Medicaid Investigations took part in the Strike Force action.

The following link is the press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office when Eraifej was first charged in July 2010:

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Visits Salient, Learns About OMIG/Salient Partnership: On June 3, New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand traveled to the Elmira/Horseheads region and stopped into the offices of Salient. While there, she discovered the company's many-faceted approaches to data mining, including the one used at OMIG. Click here to read the story that appeared in the Corning Leader.

A Brooklyn physical therapist pleaded guilty on May 13 for his role in submitting false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for physical therapy services that were medically unnecessary and never provided, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office (Eastern District of New York).

The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Katherine Houston of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and was investigated by HHS-OIG and the New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General.

This case was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, supervised by the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.

To read the full press release, click here.

Medicaid Inspector General James G. Sheehan presented a check for more than $515,000 to Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks as part of the county's participation in OMIG's Medicaid Fraud Waste and Abuse County Demonstration Project. Click here to read the complete release. Photo | Video

NYSAC Executive Director Stephen Acquario, left, and Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks, right, listen as Medicaid Inspector General James G. Sheehan addresses the media in Rochester after presenting Monroe County with a check for $515,745.

Westchester County Gets Medicaid Reimbursement Check

Listen:  (WCBS 880's Catherine Cioffi reports)

NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Westchester County's efforts to fight medicaid fraud and abuse were coming to effect Sunday.

For identifying Medicaid waste, fraud and abuse, the County received a $61,000 Medicaid reimbursement check from the State. County Executive Rob Asterino said it's not a whole lot of money but its a start.

Westchester is one of the first counties to receive recovery money from the state.

OMIG Investigators Collaborate with Law Enforcement and Government Agencies to Break Up Doctor-Led Oxycodone Distribution Ring in New York City

The OMIG has been working with Warren County District Attorney Kate Hogan on this case. The story appeared in the January 28, 2010 edition of the Glens Falls Post-Star.

Click on the link or Copy and Paste the address into your internet browser window. www.poststar.com/news/local/article_3be6872e-0b69-11df-8d52-001cc4c002e0.html