STATE INSPECTOR GENERAL ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF COMPLAINT DASHBOARD AS PART OF TRANSPARENCY COMMITMENT

 

 

New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang announced today the launch of a publicly accessible dashboard containing data about all complaints received by the Offices of the New York State Inspector (OIG) as part of her commitment to improve transparency in state government. Hosted on the state’s Open Data portal, the Inspector General will make available anonymized monthly data about the number, nature and source of all complaints received by the agency, which is comprised of the Offices of the New York State Inspector General (NYSIG), Welfare Inspector General (OWIG), Workers’ Compensation Inspector General (WCIFG), and Gaming Inspector General (OGIG).

 

The first set of data made public today provides information on complaints received by the agency in September 2022. The data will be updated in the middle of each month to include totals from the month prior. Open Data’s interface will empower the public to interpret data on complaints through maneuverable charts and graphs.

 

“We take seriously our responsibility to thoroughly investigate every allegation under our jurisdiction, and to share any substantiated findings with the public,” said Inspector General Lang. “Transparency has been my priority since taking office. It is vital that government clearly communicate about how we are fulfilling our mandate to serve the people of the state. We invite researchers, journalists, and the public to review and analyze our data and help us work towards a more transparent New York.”

 

This effort is the latest in a series of initiatives designed to increase OIG transparency, which has also included the ongoing publication of a decade’s worth of historical letters, daily social media updates and engagement, and a commitment to publish every report and letter detailing the agency’s work addressing complaints of corruption, fraud, criminal activity, conflicts of interest or abuse in state government.

 

View the OIG data portal here: https://data.ny.gov/Transparency/Offices-of-the-Inspector-General-Investigative-Com/m4ux-3xxj

Doctor Convicted At Trial Of Illegally Distributing Oxycodone From Midtown Manhattan Practice

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that a federal jury found HOWARD ADELGLASS guilty for his participation in a conspiracy to illegally prescribe oxycodone.  The defendant was found guilty following a two-week trial before U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff.  Sentencing is scheduled for March 8, 2023, before Judge Rakoff.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Doctor Howard Adelglass was a drug dealer, but instead of peddling drugs on the street corner, he distributed drugs with a prescription pad from his Central Park South ‘pain-management clinic.’  For years, the defendant prescribed enormous quantities of highly addictive and deadly opioids to people he knew were suffering from substance abuse disorders or were dealers.  By distributing mammoth quantities of oxycodone pills to people without a legitimate medical purpose, the defendant destroyed lives and families.  Along with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to hold accountable those responsible for fueling the opioid crisis that is ravaging our community and nation.”

According to the allegations contained in the Indictment, the evidence offered at trial, and matters included in public filings:

HOWARD ADELGLASS was a licensed physician.  Together with Marcello Sansone, the defendant operated a pain-management clinic located in Midtown Manhattan (the “Clinic”).  The Clinic serviced purported patients seeking oxycodone and other pain-relief medications commonly diverted for illicit purposes.  In exchange for cash payments, and in some instances for cocaine, ADELGLASS wrote thousands of prescriptions for large quantities of oxycodone, and many he wrote to individuals whom ADELGLASS knew did not need the pills for a legitimate medical purpose.  When they occurred, ADELGLASS’s examinations were perfunctory.  The defendant’s purported patients included individuals addicted to opioids and, in some cases, who sold oxycodone on the street.  Even when faced with clear evidence of his purported patients’ drug abuse and diversion, ADELGLASS continued to prescribe large quantities of oxycodone to them.

Initially, ADELGLASS staffed the Clinic with inexperienced young women, some of whom he addicted to oxycodone.  In approximately October 2018, after serving as a primary source of patient referrals, Sansone took over as the Clinic’s office manager.  In that role, Sansone helped to control access to ADELGLASS and the lucrative prescriptions he wrote for medically unnecessary oxycodone.  With particularly vulnerable patients, the defendants solicited and, in some instances, received sex acts in exchange for oxycodone prescriptions.

Between in or about November 2017 and in or about September 2020, ADELGLASS prescribed more than 1.3 million oxycodone pills. 

On October 13, 2022, Sansone pled guilty to conspiracy to illegally distribute oxycodone.  Sansone is scheduled to be sentenced on February 13, 2023, before Judge Rakoff.

ADELGLASS, 67, of New York, New York, was convicted of conspiracy to illegally distribute oxycodone, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. 

The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General.

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - NOVEMBER 4, 2022

 

Governor Encourages New Yorkers to Keep Using the Tools to Protect Against and Treat COVID-19: Vaccines, Boosters, Testing and Treatment

24 Statewide Deaths Reported Yesterday

 Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating COVID-19.

"As respiratory illnesses including COVID-19 circulate in our state this fall, I urge New Yorkers to take advantage of all available tools to keep themselves, their loved ones and their communities safe and healthy," Governor Hochul said. "Stay up to date on vaccine doses, and test before gatherings or travel. If you test positive, talk to your doctor about potential treatment options."

Yesterday, Governor Hochul launched a new public awareness campaign featuring New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett speaking directly to New Yorkers about three viruses - Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), flu and COVID-19 - now circulating in the state with similar symptoms and the potential to cause serious illness. Produced by the New York State Department of Health, the videos include a short clip and a longer version geared toward parents; and a version aimed specifically at health care providers.

Governor Hochul continues to remind New Yorkers that children ages 5 and older may now receive the bivalent booster shots that are recommended to increase protection against COVID-19.

The Governor also urges New Yorkers to get their bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters. To schedule an appointment for a booster, New Yorkers should contact their local pharmacy, county health department, or healthcare provider; visit vaccines.gov; text their ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find nearby locations.

In addition, Governor Hochul encourages New Yorkers to get their annual flu vaccine as flu season is widespread across New York State. The flu virus and the virus that causes COVID-19 are both circulating, so getting vaccinated against both is the best way to stay healthy and to avoid added stress to the health care system.

The State Department of Health is continuing its annual public education campaign, reminding adults and parents to get both flu and COVID-19 shots for themselves and children 6 months and older. Advertisements in both English and Spanish language began running last month.

For information about flu vaccine clinics, contact the local health department or visit vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/.

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Cases Per 100k - 24.57
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 19.72
• Test Results Reported - 81,888
• Total Positive - 4,801
• Percent Positive - 5.19%**
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 5.81%**
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,804 (-45)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 417
• Patients in ICU - 303 (+6)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 102 (+4)
• Total Discharges - 358,316 (+427)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 24
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 58,903

** 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 - 75,112

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 - 40,360,422
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 4,403
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 23,573
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 93.4%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 84.8%
• 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) - 89.6%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 86.1%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 75.6%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 83.6%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 75.6%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 93.2%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 79.7%

Each New York City borough's 7-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows **:

Borough	Tuesday,   November   1, 2022	Wednesday,   November   2, 2022	Thursday,   November   3, 2022
Bronx	6.28%	6.36%	6.25%
Kings	3.83%	4.31%	4.03%
New York	5.84%	5.91%	5.83%
Queens	6.57%	6.60%	6.46%
Richmond	5.53%	5.54%	5.16%