JCOPE Imposes $75,000 Fine for Lobbying Act Violations

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) announced today that it has entered into a settlement agreement with Health Management Systems (HMS) for violations of the gift provisions of Legislative Law § 1-m.

HMS admitted that it that paid for meals and beverages for an employee of the state’s Office of Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG) while it had a contract with the state to recover improper Medicaid payments and overpayments. The company also acknowledged that it offered the employee a job.

The State Inspector General released an investigative report today regarding the employee, and has referred her findings to JCOPE.

It’s very likely that we’ll be hearing more from JCOPE regarding this employee and his actions in accepting gifts from HMS, and in discussing (and accepting) a position with HMS while he oversaw the company’s contract.