In Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist,” there was a woman who took in orphans too young for the workhouses. She had a system in place where the parish would give her seven pence halfpenny per week to feed each child. However, Dickens described how she only spent a portion of the money on the starvelings and kept the rest for herself. He called this act: “Finding in the lowest depth a deeper still.”
This scene from the novel reminds me of the current migrant crisis in New York City, where individuals seeking asylum are being placed under the care of a for-profit company through a no-bid contract.
It is disheartening to hear the CEO of DocGo expressing delight to investors over the fact that the company will profit greatly due to the global migration crisis and political gridlock in Washington. (It should be noted that the CEO has since resigned after reports surfaced about him fabricating parts of his resume.)
Furthermore, it has been discovered that DocGo stands to make immediate profit by overbilling New York City for its services. According to the contract, the company can charge $50 per hour for a security guard while only paying them $22.20. Caseworkers who are earning $24 to $28 per hour can be billed at $75 an hour. And as for physician assistants, DocGo is offering them $90 an hour but will be reimbursed $225 per hour through the contract.
With each new detail that comes to light about this $432 million contract, it becomes increasingly clear how unfavorable it is for the company’s clients, as well as city and state taxpayers. Furthermore, it raises concerns about accountability.
Attorney General Letitia James’ Civil Rights Bureau is already investigating DocGo for misleading migrants about job opportunities and healthcare, as well as restricting their freedom to leave their accommodations or speak with the media. Additionally, an immigration attorney has reported that workers at DocGo’s Albany site attempted to prevent migrants from seeking legal counsel.
We have emphasized before that a crisis of this magnitude requires a professional and public response. State leaders must prioritize this issue and take swift action.
Migration is not only a political challenge but it is also easy for leaders to overlook, considering it as someone else’s problem. Some may argue that the issue is too vast to tackle, while others may dismiss it because they don’t witness its impact in their own communities. However, this is not just an issue for New York City or the specific communities where migrants are currently located.
Although New York state cannot fully resolve the global crisis, it can certainly address the situation within its own borders by taking control away from a for-profit entity that prioritizes its own interests, as Dickens astutely observed.
The state needs to establish its own comprehensive system to house and care for migrants until they receive work authorization. This approach would be more financially sound, transparent, and accountable. Most importantly, it would prioritize the well-being of the individuals that DocGo is meant to serve. With each new revelation about this situation, the urgency to find a resolution becomes even more evident.
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