Health Care Consultant Found Not to Have Violated Lobbying Law

The New York Times is reporting that the Commission on Public Integrity (CPI) has concluded that Jeffrey Sachs, a member of the Governor’s Medicaid Redesign Team, “did not violate state lobbying regulations when he contacted state officials on behalf of a Queens hospital seeking more Medicaid financing.”

NYPIRG filed a complaint with the CPI in February.

According to the Times, the CPI found that Sachs contacted state officials on behalf of the hospital only before the Health Department formally began the process of issuing an emergency rule that would benefit the hospital.  The CPI found that such advocacy does not meet the definition of “lobbying” under state law, and therefore, Sachs was not required to register as a lobbyist or report his expenses and fees.

The CPI has not yet posted any findings on its web site relating to its determination in this matter.