New York AG Candidate Criticizes Letitia James Over Medicaid Fraud Recoveries

Saritha Komatireddy, a Republican candidate for New York Attorney General, has made Medicaid fraud a key issue in her campaign, alleging that prosecutions have significantly decreased under current Attorney General Letitia James. Komatireddy claims that recoveries from Medicaid fraud have dropped from $168 million in 2019 to $31 million in 2024, according to data from the New York Attorney General's annual reports. She argues that previous attorneys general had much higher recovery rates, with figures exceeding $200 million annually. Komatireddy also noted that the state's spending on the fraud recovery program has increased from approximately $45 million in fiscal 2020 to $70 million in 2025. Furthermore, she stated that the number of criminal convictions for Medicaid fraud has declined under James's leadership. The issue has garnered attention from federal officials, including a letter from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, requesting information on New York's fraud prevention measures. Komatireddy has pledged to enhance the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit by adding 20 prosecutors if elected.