I went to a party with medical professionals from NYC. Almost all they talked about was fraud, specifically Medicaid and Medicare fraud. Their view: what’s been uncovered in Minnesota is real, but New York absolutely dwarfs it.
They claimed over 60% of the fraud in their organization is concentrated within one tight-knit ethnic community, largely among undocumented immigrants living in Brooklyn and Staten Island… specifically Russian Jews.
They stressed this is not religious corruption. They explained that Russia is sending Jewish people from towns bombed by Nazis in WWII because they qualify for multiple benefit streams: Medicare, Medicaid, and Holocaust survivor compensation programs.
And the state doubles federal benefits!
They said the scam resembles Minnesota’s model: a close community that understands how to work the system. New York law now limits healthcare providers’ ability to request citizenship documentation.
They said almost all are here illegally.
To “save money,” the state allows family members to act as paid home aides, transportation providers, and service contractors. Patients always claim discomfort with American nurses or doctors, triggering requirements for culturally or linguistically matched providers who are Russian-speaking and obviously in on the scam.
According to them, many of the Russian nurses hired are less effective at care but extremely effective at navigating paperwork to maximize reimbursements.
Worse, they alleged some patients receive little or no care at all, abandoned by family members continue cashing checks. Program managers who resist escalating monthly benefits are reportedly yelled at, threatened, or intimidated.
They admitted they have no hard proof but strongly suspect large portions of the money are being sent back to Russia.
They can’t say any of this publicly but are all hoping
@nickshirleyy
pays these communities a visit soon.