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Thursday, April 21, 2022
Office of the New York State Comptroller - Inflation in the New York City Metropolitan Area
MAYOR ADAMS’ STATEMENT ON REFORMING RIKERS ISLAND
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released the following statement on reforming Rikers Island:
“This administration took control of Rikers Island amidst historic challenges, including deliberate disinvestment in the jail complex, an ongoing COVID-19 crisis, and huge staffing challenges. Since Commissioner Molina assumed office, in conjunction with the federal monitor, we’ve seen reductions in use of force and assaults on staff, increased searches for weapons and contraband, and sick leave that has dropped to levels not seen since before last summer’s horrendous shortages.
“On the first day of my administration, I appointed Commissioner Molina to lead this work, and he is laying the groundwork for long-term change. As a corrections professional with a proven track record who worked successfully with a monitor and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District to reform the Westchester County Jail, I know he is the right person to take on this extraordinarily difficult work. Fixing Rikers is critically important, a moral imperative, and we need to get it right. But to do that, we need the opportunity to implement our plan. These are generational challenges, deeply ingrained, and no administration can solve them in less than four months. We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with the federal monitor and all other stakeholders.”
Long Island Medical Doctor Charged as Part of COVID-19 Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action
An indictment was returned yesterday in Central Islip charging Dr. Perry Frankel with three counts of health care fraud for an alleged scheme to defraud Medicare and Medicaid of over $1.3 million in claims that were billed during the COVID-19 health emergency in connection with COVID-19 testing. Frankel, a cardiologist and the owner and operator of Advanced Cardiovascular Diagnostics PLLC, allegedly caused the submission of claims to Medicare and Medicaid for office visits that were not performed for patients who received COVID-19 tests at Advanced Cardiovascular Diagnostics PLLC’s mobile testing sites across Long Island, including on dates when Frankel was not present in the state of New York. Frankel was arrested this morning and will be arraigned this afternoon before United States District Judge Joanna Seybert.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Scott J. Lampert, Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General’s Office of Investigations (HHS-OIG), announced the charges.
“As alleged, exploiting a public health crisis by using patients who received COVID-19 tests at mobile testing sites to fraudulently bill Medicare and Medicaid for fictitious office visits is reprehensible,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This Office and our law enforcement partners will vigorously prosecute those who take advantage of the pandemic to steal from taxpayer-funded programs."
“As alleged, Frankel took advantage of the COVID-19 health crisis to engage in a fraud scheme that undermined our health care system and the people it serves,” said HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Lampert. “Such scams waste taxpayer funds and drive up healthcare costs for all of us. HHS-OIG and our law enforcement partners will remain vigilant in our efforts to root out all related fraud schemes during the ongoing public health emergency.”
“The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Unit and our partners are dedicated to rooting out schemes that have exploited the pandemic,” said Assistant Attorney General Polite. “Today’s enforcement action reinforces our commitment to using all available tools to hold accountable medical professionals, corporate executives, and others who have placed greed above care during an unprecedented public health emergency.”
The charges filed in Central Islip are part of a coordinated health care fraud enforcement action across nine federal districts, led by the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, that resulted in criminal charges against 21 defendants for their alleged participation in health care fraud schemes related to COVID-19 involving more than $149 million in false and fraudulent claims.
HHS-OIG is investigating the case, which was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force under the supervision of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. Trial Attorneys Kelly M. Lyons and Patrick J. Campbell of the Fraud Section are in charge of the prosecution.
The Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force. Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 15 strike forces operating in 24 districts, has charged more than 4,200 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for nearly $19 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - APRIL 21, 2022
"By using the tools, we can protect ourselves from subvariants and keep both ourselves and our loved ones healthy," Governor Hochul said. "Make sure to keep up to date on vaccine doses, get the second booster as soon as you are eligible, and make sure your children are fully vaccinated. Remember to get tested before traveling and ask your doctor about treatments if you test positive."
Today's data is summarized briefly below:
- Cases Per 100k - 34.77
- 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 31.36
- Test Results Reported - 93,758
- Total Positive - 6,794
- Percent Positive - 7.42**
- 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 5.94%**
- Patient Hospitalization - 1,453 (+49)
- Patients Newly Admitted - 267
- Patients in ICU - 168 (-2)
- Patients in ICU with Intubation - 59 (-7)
- Total Discharges - 294,173 (+235)
- New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 18
- Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 55,348
** Due to the test reporting policy change by the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and several other factors, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data -- not percent positivity.
The Health Electronic Response Data System is a NYS DOH data source that collects confirmed daily death data as reported by hospitals, nursing homes and adult care facilities only.
Important Note: Effective Monday, April 4, the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is no longer requiring testing facilities that use COVID-19 rapid antigen tests to report negative results. As a result, New York State's percent positive metric will be computed using only lab-reported PCR results. Positive antigen tests will still be reported to New York State and reporting of new daily cases and cases per 100k will continue to include both PCR and antigen tests. Due to this change and other factors, including changes in testing practices, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data -- not percent positivity.
- Total deaths reported to and compiled by the CDC - 70,622
This daily COVID-19 provisional death certificate data reported by NYS DOH and NYC to the CDC includes those who died in any location, including hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities, at home, in hospice and other settings.
- Total vaccine doses administered - 38,092,465
- Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 31,933
- Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 194,811
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 92.3%
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 83.6%
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 95.0%
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 86.6%
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 82.9%
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 72.9%
- Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 81.8%
- Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 74.0%
- Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 90%
- Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 76.7%
Borough | Monday, April 18, 2022 | Tuesday, April 19, 2022 | Wednesday, April 20, 2022 |
Bronx | 1.72% | 2.20% | 2.41% |
Kings | 3.18% | 3.37% | 3.63% |
New York | 4.85% | 4.97% | 5.19% |
Queens | 3.08% | 3.45% | 3.90% |
Richmond | 3.45% | 3.98% | 4.37% |
DEC COMMISSIONER SEGGOS ANNOUNCES STATEWIDE DIESEL TRUCK EMISSION ENFORCEMENT BLITZ DURING EARTH WEEK
Supports New York State’s Efforts to Reduce Harmful Air Emissions, Particularly in Environmental Justice Communities Disproportionately Overburdened by Pollution
“New York State continues to lead the nation in taking bold action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants that harm our environment, economy, and affect Environmental Justice communities that are disproportionately impacted by pollution,” Commissioner Basil Seggos said. “This latest diesel truck detail, happening as we commemorate Earth Week, will take dirty trucks off our roads and provides us with a great example of why we need to accelerate our transition from fossil fuels to prevent the damage they cause to our climate and the health of our communities.”
The detail will help identify non-compliant heavy-duty vehicles and reduce emissions of fine particulate matter in disadvantaged communities where there is often significant heavy-duty vehicle traffic. DEC’s Earth Week enforcement details are happening in and around Environmental Justice communities in Suffolk, Nassau, Queens, Bronx, Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Ulster, Dutchess, Schoharie, Delaware, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Clinton, Washington, Warren, Saratoga, St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Oneida, Cortland, Oswego, Broome, Seneca, Schuyler, Steuben, Allegany, Chautauqua, Niagara, and Erie counties.
In addition to conducting emissions inspections on diesel vehicles, ECOs will also engage in targeted enforcement of regulations restricting idling time for diesel vehicles. Reduced idling time cuts down on air pollution and noise, improves fuel economy, and saves diesel operators and consumers money. Officers will also monitor compliance of pesticide applications, solid waste transportation, and open burning as part of the Earth Week detail.
New York prioritizes climate justice in several ways, including in the implementation of the ambitious Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act which requires the State to invest or direct resources to ensure that disadvantaged communities receive at least 35 percent, with the goal of 40 percent, of overall benefits of spending on clean energy and energy efficiency programs. Draft criteria developed by the Climate Justice Working Group will guide the equitable implementation of the Climate Act. The draft criteria include an interactive map and list of communities the criteria would cover for directing programs and projects to reduce air pollution and climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions, provide economic development opportunities, and target clean energy and energy efficiency investments. New Yorkers can comment on the draft disadvantaged communities criteria until July 7, 2022, by going to https://climate.ny.gov. In addition, the Draft Scoping Plan, which describes recommended policies and actions to help New York meet its climate directives as part of the Climate Act, is available for public comment until June 10, 2022, at https://climate.ny.gov.
The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is a critical component of improving the air quality in disadvantaged communities and will achieve the goals in the Climate Act. Earlier this year, Governor Kathy Hochul’s State of the State address included several initiatives to support New York’s transition to electric vehicles, including: the commitment to convert the State agency fleet to all zero-emission vehicles by 2035; require the purchase of zero-emission school buses by 2027; and invest $1 billion in electric transportation, mostly directed to charging infrastructure.
For more information visit Heavy Duty Vehicles - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation.