Flushing's dense cluster of adult day centers bills Medicaid over $730 million
A one-mile area of Flushing hosts 77 social adult day care centers that claimed more than $733 million from Medicaid between 2018 and 2024, many appearing largely empty.
A recent probe revealed that Flushing, Queens, contains 77 social adult day care centers that together received $733 million from Medicaid for services rendered from 2018 to 2024, representing about 14 percent of the state’s total spending in this category. On-site inspections showed many locations with empty rooms, dim lighting, and no visible seniors, even though the centers reported serving tens of thousands of patients and claimed tens of millions in reimbursements.
Staff at several sites rebuffed reporters, with one employee chasing a camera crew out and threatening police involvement. Local pharmacy owner Kenny Chan described a pervasive kickback system in which seniors receive modest monthly payments while the centers profit thousands per client. State Senator John Liu attributed the proliferation of centers to a lack of senior-center capacity in the district, while the NYC Department of Aging clarified the distinction between senior centers and Medicaid-funded day-care programs, a difference many locals do not recognize.
Why it matters
Taxpayer funds may be flowing to largely unused facilities, raising concerns about Medicaid oversight and potential fraud.
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