Trump Admin Admits Majorly Inflated Medicaid Numbers Were Used to Justify Fraud Probe

"The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz asserted that roughly 5 million New Yorkers were receiving personal care services through Medicaid, a figure that would represent nearly three-quarters of the state's enrollees. In reality, the number is closer to 450,000 people, or about 6% to 7% of recipients."

"A CMS spokesperson acknowledged the discrepancy, stating that the agency had misinterpreted how New York applies its billing codes and has since updated its methodology."

"New York officials pushed back forcefully, with a spokesperson for Gov. Hochul telling the AP that the federal government's original claim was patently false, while defending the state's oversight of the program."

"Fiscal Policy Institute senior adviser Michael Kinnucan criticized the situation as slapdash, adding that these numbers could have been cleared up in a phone call."

The Trump administration acknowledged using inflated figures regarding New York's Medicaid recipients to justify a fraud investigation. Claims made by CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz suggested that 5 million New Yorkers were receiving personal care services, while the actual number is approximately 450,000. This discrepancy has prompted criticism from health policy experts and New York officials, who defended the state's program oversight. Despite the admission of error, the federal investigation into New York's Medicaid program continues, with CMS citing additional concerns.

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