NEW YORK (VINnews) — Federal health officials have opened a review of New York’s $124 billion Medicaid program, citing concerns about high spending and possible weaknesses in fraud prevention, according to a report Tuesday in the New York Post.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, has asked state officials detailed questions about how the program screens providers, controls costs and safeguards against improper billing, the Post reported. In a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul and senior health officials, he said the review is aimed at protecting beneficiaries and strengthening public confidence in the system.

New York’s Medicaid program, which provides health coverage to low-income residents, enrolls more than 6.8 million people — about one-third of the state’s population.

Oz reportedly noted that New York’s Medicaid spending per resident and per enrollee is well above the national average. He pointed to rapid growth in services such as home care and non-emergency medical transportation as major cost drivers. The inquiry also highlights federal cases in which individuals were charged or convicted in schemes involving false Medicaid billing.

The federal review follows similar examinations of Medicaid programs in other states.

A spokesperson for Hochul’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.