Boro Park Raid Update: FBI Raids Adult Day Care Centers Across NYC Amid Medicaid Fraud Investigation

By Y.M. Lowy

The law-enforcement activity reported on BoroPark24 earlier today is part of a federal and state investigation into suspected fraud involving social adult day-care programs, authorities have now confirmed.

According to Governor Kathy Hochul, the months-long investigation targeted more than 100 social adult day-care providers suspected of potential fraud or illegal activity. The operation involved multiple state and federal agencies, including the FBI, the New York State Department of Health and the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

In Boro Park, one of the locations where investigators were seen was at Happy Adult Day Care Center locations at 5118 Fort Hamilton Pkwy and 4022-8th Ave. Authorities were seen carrying evidence out of the building during the raid.

“We are targeting providers who we believe engaged in illegal activity, ranging from money laundering to kickbacks, to improper billing and other fraudulent activities,” Hochul said.

The governor also directed the State Department of Health to conduct a full review of the program and develop recommendations by December 31. Those recommendations may include additional reforms or phasing out the benefit and transitioning participants to other services.

New York currently has more than 400 social adult day-care programs serving approximately 45,000 Medicaid members statewide, at an estimated annual cost of more than $500 million.

The raids come about three months after YouTuber Nick Shirley published an investigation into New York City adult day-care centers. Shirley previously gained national attention for a video investigating alleged fraud involving child-care centers in Minnesota.

In his New York investigation, published in July, Shirley visited adult day-care businesses in Queens and raised questions about their operations and the public funding they receive.

Authorities have not yet publicly identified all the businesses targeted in the searches or announced any charges connected to the operation.

BoroPark24 will continue to provide updates as more details emerge.