OLS Audit Found that State Reimbursed Doctors $1.6 Million for Vaccines They Got for Free from Federal Program
The Department of Human Services must improve its oversight after a recent audit by the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services found that the state has paid $1.6 million over three years to pay for children’s vaccines that were available at no cost from the federal government, Assemblyman Scott Rudder said today.
“Only in New Jersey could we find government paying for thousands of vaccines that doctors could get directly from the federal government with no charge for children enrolled in Medicaid or NJ FamilyCare,” said Assemblyman Rudder, a member of the Assembly Human Services Committee.
The audit found that the Human Services’ Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services did not monitor its contracts with five managed care organizations hired for the Vaccines for Children Program.
The five contractors paid 78,400 claims totaling $1.6 million to 997 providers from July 2005 through November 2008.
“New Jersey is nearly broke. We must take advantage of any opportunity that provides vital health services to needy children without cost to the state,” Rudder said. “The Division has promised to work with its contractors to better manage the program in the future, but when Governor Corzine is preparing to ask New Jerseyans for tough sacrifices, his departments must be proactive and vigilant against this kind of wasteful spending.”
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