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State Comptroller reports tens of millions recovered; urges legislature to act on audits
Summary
State Comptroller Kevin Walsh told the budget committee his office recovered tens of millions in improperly spent Medicaid funds this year, identified vulnerabilities in nursing-home oversight and clinical billing, and urged lawmakers to act on audit recommendations.
State Comptroller Kevin Walsh told the Assembly Budget Committee his office has made significant recoveries and raised systemic concerns about public spending and oversight.
Walsh told the committee his office recovered more than $78,000,000 in improperly spent Medicaid funds this year, with projections to exceed $100,000,000 by the end of the fiscal year. He said coordinated data matching since 2021 has recouped roughly $90,000,000 for the state.
Walsh highlighted audits into nursing-home exploitation and independent clinical laboratory billing practices, saying the work exposed systemic vulnerabilities and led to recommendations for improved oversight and cost savings. He also described an audit of an educational services commission that found a nearly $70,000,000 surplus without an allocated plan, and a follow-up audit of the Economic Development Authority that recovered improperly awarded funds.
The comptroller urged legislators to review reports posted on his office’s website and to consider hearings or legislation to adopt reform recommendations. He offered staff to testify at future hearings to ensure public understanding of the findings and to support legislative action.
The committee thanked the office for the audits and indicated interest in following up on specific recommendations related to Medicaid, nursing homes and pension or benefit reforms.
