Audits find ways state Health Department could save big bucks

The state Department of Health could save hundreds of millions of dollars if it had better oversight of enrollment in Medicaid and other public health plans.

That’s according to two audits from State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.

His office said those audits found thousands of instances where state Medicaid paid costs that another federally funded plan should have paid.

His office cited the Essential Plan, New York’s basic health plan, or Medicare as other options to pay those bills.

The report also found state Medicaid could have saved nearly $295 million with better oversight over enrollment.