To kick-off our new year, we will be joined by James G. Sheehan, JD, New York State Medicaid Inspector General.  Mr. Sheehan was appointed as the New York State Medicaid Inspector General in April 2007.  He had been the Associate U.S. Attorney for Civil Programs in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia).   Mr. Sheehan has focused on health care fraud since 1987, having personally handled or directly supervised over 500 health care fraud matters. From 1999 to 2006, he led the Federal Government's investigation and case against Medco Health Solutions, which resulted in recovery of over $155 million, as well as substantial business changes to protect patients and pharmacists.     He received the Attorney General's Distinguished Service Award in 1992, and in 1997, and the Inspector General's Integrity Award in l990, 1993, 1997, and 2005.
 
The New York Medicaid Inspector General's Office (OMIG) is the second largest state Medicaid program integrity agency in the United States, with over 600 staff, overseeing an annual Medicaid budget of $51 billion. Professional staffs include auditors, investigators, data analysts, and medical personnel-pharmacists, nurses and physician and dental reviewers. In 2009-2010, OMIG had recoveries and new cost avoidances of over $ 1 billion.