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March 05, 2016

Selected Reports issued by the Office of the State Comptroller during the week ending March 5, 2016


Selected Reports issued by the Office of the State Comptroller during the week ending March 5, 2016
Click on text highlighted in color to access the full report

State audits released.
 
City University of New York – Administration of Fellowship Leaves; Follow-up
An initial audit issued in October 2013, examined whether the fellowship leaves granted instructional staff were awarded for authorized purposes and in compliance with all applicable requirements. Although most of the fellowship recipients reviewed complied with CUNY policy, improvements were needed to protect taxpayer dollars and the integrity of CUNY’s fellowship leave program. In a follow-up report, auditors determined CUNY has made progress in addressing the issues identified in the initial report.


Office of General Services – Passenger Vehicle Fleet Management
In the almost three years since the state’s Spending and Government Efficiency (SAGE) Commission’s recommendations, OGS has not made any formal recommendations regarding the state’s vehicle fleet, as directed in the commission report. As a result, there has been relatively little progress in achieving the overall goal of consolidating and centralizing management of the fleet, which largely remains the responsibility of managers at the individual agencies. For additional progress to occur, OGS needs to perform a comprehensive analysis of agency needs and take steps to ensure the fleet available to each agency is the proper size and makeup to most efficiently meet agency missions.


Department of Health – Fraudulent and Improper Claims – Follow-up
An initial audit issued in August 2013, determined that Medicaid made improper payments totaling $94,460 to Davis Ethical Pharmacy. Auditors determined that Davis Ethical likely fabricated nearly all of the improper claims. After an investigation, the owner, William Davis, pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Second Degree in Nassau County District Court. In a follow-up, auditors determined DOH made progress addressing the problems identified in the initial report. At the time of the follow-up review, Davismade full restitution to the state.


United HealthCare – Fraudulent and Improper Claims
An initial audit report issued in August 2013, determined the New York State Health Insurance Plan (NYSHIP) made improper payments totaling $137,459 to Davis Ethical Pharmacy. After an investigation, the owner, William Davis pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Second Degree in Nassau County District Court. In a follow-up, auditors determined United made progress addressing the problems identified in the initial report. At the time of the follow-up review, William Davis made full restitution to the state.
 

Higher Education Services Corporation – Tuition Assistance Program
Auditors determined that Metropolitan Learning Institute was overpaid $581,315 because school officials incorrectly certified students as eligible for state financial aid awards.


NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene – Administration of Contracts
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene [DOHMH] did not effectively administer certain financial aspects of the contract with the Center for Urban Community Services. As a result, CUCS overbilled DOHMH by about $1.06 million during the year ended
June 30, 2013. The overbillings include $1.05 million of improperly claimed personal service expenses and $11,889 of unsupported or inappropriate non-personal service costs.


SUNY Downstate Medical Center – Review of Grove Technologies, Inc.
In April 2014, Downstate entered into a state-funded, non-competitive, single-source contract with Growe for electronic medical health record services.  Auditors found Downstate paid up to $1.3 million more than necessary by using a non-competitive procurement rather than bidding the services or using existing competitive contracts available to Downstate.  The decision to use the non-competitive contract was based on unsupported claims from Downstate officials.

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NYPPL Blogger Harvey Randall served as Principal Attorney, New York State Department of Civil Service; Director of Personnel, SUNY Central Administration; Director of Research, Governor’s Office of Employee Relations; and Staff Judge Advocate General, New York Guard. Consistent with the Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations, the material posted to this blog is presented with the understanding that neither the publisher nor NYPPL and, or, its staff and contributors are providing legal advice to the reader and in the event legal or other expert assistance is needed, the reader is urged to seek such advice from a knowledgeable professional.
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