Image of nurses' hands at computer keyboard

New York Gov. Eliot L. Spitzer (D) tapped a well-known federal prosecutor in Pennsylvania for the position of Medicaid inspector general for New York state.

James G. Sheehan, who served in the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania since 1980, will oversee the fraud and abuse enforcement activities of the state’s $50 billion Medicaid program. The New York state Senate still must confirm the appointment.

Sheehan has handled more than 500 healthcare fraud matters, as well as managed all civil litigation in his current position in the office of U.S. Attorney. Sheehan has led and managed healthcare fraud and kickback cases from pharmacy benefit companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, medical suppliers, hospitals, nursing homes, and physicians, the governor’s office said.