THE LAKEWOOD VAAD

Serving the Greater Lakewood Orthodox Community

.

With the Ocean County Voluntary Disclosure program, created in the wake of the Medicaid fraud arrests, now concluded, local
Orthodox leaders are looking beyond the program to the future. They note that the program achieved its goal of bringing major
benefits to New Jersey taxpayers, and that it resulted in improved compliance rates for the region.
PRESS RELEASE
Precise figures for how many individuals participated in the program, and how much funds were recovered, have not yet been
released. However, Rabbi Moshe Zev Weisberg of the Lakewood Vaad notes that even if 1/10th of 1% of Lakewoods 130,000
residents participated that would translate into well over 100 residents who stepped up to the program. This, he says, would
Medicaid Voluntary Disclosure
mean that when penalties Program Ends
are included as Scheduled:
that millions of dollarsVaad Pledges
may have to Continue
been recovered for theRaising
taxpayers.
Awareness.
Moreover, he stresses that the ripple effects of the program extend well beyond the raw numbers.
We all share a common goal says Rabbi Weisberg. We all believe that every taxpayer dollar spent should be within the full
With
letterthe
andconclusion of the
spirit of the laws thatOcean
govern County Voluntary
their distribution. We Disclosure
will continue program, created
to work tirelessly in thethat
to ensure wake
all inof the
our region live
Medicaid fraud arrests, local Orthodox up to the leaders
highest level
are oflooking
ethics and legal compliance.
beyond the program to the future. They
note that the program achieved its goal of bringing major benefits to New Jersey taxpayers, and that it
To this end, the Voluntary Disclosure program enabled individuals who have improperly benefited from taxpayer dollars in
resulted in improved
previous compliance
years to come forward and rates forthose
correct themistakes.
region. The fact that they were able to do so without fear of criminal
prosecution, as with any similar program, made it attractive to come forward voluntarily. Millions in taxpayer funds are
typically recovered as a result, at negligible cost to taxpayers relative to the steep investigative and social costs that taxpayers
Precise figures for how many individuals participated in the program, and how much funds were
would incur to recover the funds on an involuntary basis.
recovered, have not yet been released. However, Rabbi Moshe Zev Weisberg of the Lakewood Vaad
Eventhat
notes prioreven 1/10th of
to theifformation of the
1%Voluntary Disclosure
of Lakewoods program,
130,000 The Vaad,participated
residents in coordinationthat
withwould
the Lakewood Resource
translate into and
Referral Center (LRRC), Agudath Israels New Jersey office, and Lakewood Community
well over 100 residents who stepped up to the program. This, he says, would mean that when Service Corporation (LCSC), held a
series of Community Conversations events that reached an audience of thousands. These events educated both individuals
penalties are included
and professionals of thethat millions
myriad of dollars
intricacies related tomay
eachhave been program,
government recovered andfor
thethe taxpayers.
unique rules they each have. These
events featured presenters from prestigious firms, including Citigroup, Proskauer Rose LLP, Roth & Company, LRRC and
Moreover, he stresses that the ripple effects of the CHEMED.
program extend well beyond the raw numbers.
We all share amessage
The overarching common goal
of the says Rabbi
Community Weisberg.
Conversations We
was all believe
to ensure that
that every every taxpayer
application dollar
and financial spentlives up
disclosure
should be within the full letter and spirit of the laws that govern their distribution. We will continue
to full legal compliance and, and that no detail is missed, whether advertently or inadvertently. The message of the Communityto
Conversations event also included the following: learn program rules before applying. If unsure
work tirelessly to ensure that all in our region live up to the highest level of ethics and legal make sure to seek professional
guidance. If rules are opaque or interpreted differently by different offices of the same agency check twice and thrice until you
compliance. are 100% certain of what is required.

To this end,
And, as thetheVoluntary
always, Disclosure
LRRC is available program
to advise Ocean enabled
County residents individuals
of program rules andwho have and to help with
regulations
improperly benefited from taxpayer answering any questions
dollars they mayyears
in previous have. to come forward and
correct those mistakes. The fact that they were able to do so without fear of criminal
As a result of the Community Conversations awareness in Ocean County has grown, and the level of anxiety among legitimate
prosecution, asdown.
recipients has gone withIndividuals
any similar program,
who must made it
rely on assistance areattractive to come
taking extra pains to ensureforward
that every I is dotted and
voluntarily. Millions in taxpayer funds are typically recovered as a result,
every T is crossed. And Rabbi Weisberg says, The Vaad will continue this joint effort in the monthsatand
negligible
years ahead.
cost to taxpayers relative to the steep investigative and social costs that taxpayers
He notes that when The Vaad observed low turnout at the State Comptrollers event in September where the Comptrollers office
would incur to recover the funds on an involuntary basis.
announced the Voluntary Disclosure program, it led to the recognition that effective outreach has to be done by professionals,
including trusted accountants and lawyers and not by law enforcement. This is all the more vital in the current accusatory
Even prior
online to the formation
environment of thenews
that accompanies Voluntary
coverageDisclosure
of Lakewood. program, The
This led to Vaad, in coordination
a comprehensive campaign to with the
educate residents
Lakewood Resource and Referral Center (LRRC), Agudath Israels New Jersey office, and Lakewood rely on
how to access professional counsel to learn about eligibility in a personalized individualized manner, versus needing to
general public resources.
Community Service Corporation (LCSC), held a series of Community Conversations events that
reached
Rabbi an audience
Weisberg notesof thousands.
that These events
program participants did noteducated bothatindividuals
get off the hook andtoprofessionals
all. They needed of the
repay any improper benefits
received,
myriad plus they related
intricacies had to pay
tosteep
eachpenalties. They were
government also banned
program, andfrom
the Medicaid for a full
unique rules theyyear, evenhave.
each if theyThese
are currently
eligible. This leaves many without healthcare, which led to widespread criticism of the program by some involved in public
events featured presenters from prestigious firms, including Citigroup, Proskauer Rose LLP, Roth &
health matters.
Company, LRRC and CHEMED.
According to Yosef Jacobovitch, Esq., who represented a number of program participants, While the repayment terms were
Theonerous and the penalties severe even for people who erred with no malice, my clients chose to participate and rectify their
overarching message of the Community Conversations mistakes.
was to ensure that every application and
financial disclosure lives up to full legal compliance and, and that no detail is missed, whether
Jacobovitch
advertently oradds that most of his
inadvertently. Theclients who participated
message in this program
of the Community did not have the
Conversations resources
event alsotoincluded
repay thethe
benefits
accrued over a number of years. They incurred steep debt to participate, and needed to make painful long term lifestyle changes
following: learn program rules before applying. If unsure, then seek knowledgeable professional
to do so. The direct cost and long term repercussions of participating in this program were significantly more severe than they
guidance.
are for any If
of rules areconventional
the many opaque oramnesty
interpreted differently
programs bysuch
out there, different offices oforthe
as gun buybacks same agency
tax settlements, which do
check
not bear
twice andthethrice
same type
untilofyou
consequences.
are 100%The Vaad lauds
certain theiris
of what efforts to do the right thing in spite of all these challenges.
required.
As we turn the calendar to 2018, the Vaad looks forward to continuing to work on this and other issues, in cooperative efforts to
And, as always, the build
LRRCaishealthy
available
publicto advise
climate Ocean
and County
stronger residents
communities of program
throughout rules and
Ocean County.
regulations and to help with answering any questions they may have.
Serving the Lakewood Orthodox Jewish Community
As a result of the Community Conversations awareness in Ocean County has grown, and the level of
anxiety among legitimate recipients has gone down. Individuals who must rely on assistance are taking
extra pains to ensure that every I is dotted and every T is crossed. And Rabbi Weisberg says, The
Vaad will continue this joint effort in the months and years ahead.

He notes that when The Vaad observed low turnout at the State Comptrollers event in September
where the Comptrollers office announced the Voluntary Disclosure program, it led to the recognition
that effective outreach has to be done by professionals, including trusted accountants and lawyers and
not by law enforcement. This is all the more vital in the current accusatory online environment that
accompanies news coverage of Lakewood. This led to a comprehensive campaign to educate
residents how to access professional counsel to learn about eligibility in a personalized individualized
manner, versus needing to rely on general public resources.

Rabbi Weisberg notes that program participants did not get off the hook at all. They needed to repay
any improper benefits received, plus they had to pay steep penalties. They were also banned from
Medicaid for a full year, even if they are currently eligible. This leaves many without healthcare, which
led to widespread criticism of the program by some involved in public health matters.

According to Yosef Jacobovitch, Esq., who represented a number of program participants, While the
repayment terms were onerous and the penalties severe even for people who erred with no malice,
my clients chose to participate and rectify their mistakes.

Jacobovitch adds that most of his clients who participated in this program did not have the resources
to repay the benefits accrued over a number of years. They incurred steep debt to participate, and
needed to make painful long term lifestyle changes to do so. The direct cost and long term
repercussions of participating in this program were significantly more severe than they are for any of
the many conventional amnesty programs out there, such as gun buybacks or tax settlements, which
do not bear the same type of consequences. The Vaad lauds their efforts to do the right thing in spite
of all these challenges.

As we turn the calendar to 2018, the Vaad looks forward to continuing to work on this and other
issues, in cooperative efforts to build a healthy public climate and stronger communities throughout
Ocean County.