New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office is investigating a for-profit healthcare company over its treatment of migrants, according to The New York Times.
Correspondence obtained by the newspaper shows DocGo, which entered into a $432 million no-bid contract with New York City to help thousands of immigrants, is facing allegations it deceived those migrants about employment opportunities or even threatened them, violating state and federal law. DocGo also allegedly “enrolled migrants in a healthcare plan for which they are not eligible,” and may have jeopardized their ability to obtain asylum, the report says.
Gov. Kathy Hochul and other state lawmakers have criticized New York City and DocGo in recent weeks over the migrant crisis, which has seen thousands of newcomers arrive in NYC over the last year. In some cases, migrants have been bused to other parts of the state and complained about a lack of basic services, including sufficient health care.
Hochul’s office sent a letter to NYC Mayor Eric Adams last week after he asked state taxpayers cover the estimated $7 billion the crisis will cost over the next two years. Hochul’s office said the city has fallen short in its treatment of migrants, neglecting to use millions of dollars in already available funding.
In a statement, DocGo said it would comply with the AG’s request “for basic information to understand the scope of our services and how we ensure compliance with applicable law.” The company added that it has “worked with government partners to ensure we are delivering excellent, compassionate care to asylum seekers.”
DocGo, a publicly traded medical services company, said it has provided medical care and other services to more than 19,000 migrants since beginning its work in September. The company reported its most successful financial quarter earlier this month, projecting its contract with New York City will lead to about $300 million in revenue.
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