Page 9 - Toby Douglas News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Month, we've gotten nowhere. can i just ask you from you, why? >> that wasn't my decision. >> reporter: state health officials in one sacramento building after another refused to be questioned, including toby douglas, who oversees drug medi-cal. will you provide a response as to why this widespread fraud is allowed to continue? finally, after weeks of calling the state's secretary of health and human services, diana duley, and getting no for an answer, we decided to ask for a response in person. secretary -- >> yes. >> reporter: drew griffin with cnn. we've been trying to reach you and talk to...

Been complaint registered with the department about him? he's convicted of a major insurance fraud in the state of texas, but for somehow was able to get certified and has been billing him. is there anyone in the state of california concerned about this fraud? then finally answered a question. >> the state of california takes fraud very seriously and there are many investigations that are under way. the allegations, all allegations are given full and fair consideration and you've caught me running because i am late for a meeting that i'm chairing. >> reporter: i wonder if you would do one thin...

Appears to be doing now. who at state government or at the county level was responsible for years of lax oversight?" can you answer that question? who was responsible for years of lax oversight? >> anderson, first, thank you for having me on tonight. i can't talk about the past. what i can -- >> why not? >> what i want to tell you is that this past year, the governor and the legislature transferred authority of this program to the department of health care services. once we received authority, and i as the director was accountable, we started a top-to-bottom review of this program. we initiate...

Clearly, you can't. drew, do you have a question? >> i do. mr. douglas, you know as well as i do that the audits and investigations branch of your very department, department of health care services, has been getting these fraud allegations for five years, not for the past one year, but for five years. there were meetings pointing out this fraud. we've heard from the l.a. county health director, dr. jonathan fielding, who said he's been very frustrated in the past over the lax standards of state certification, and the time it has taken the time to investigate and take action from these bad act...

The fact that you're talking now, does that mean the investigation is over? >> no, these investigations continue -- will continue on and we will work with the department of justice until we take all these providers -- >> so why is it okay to talk now, even though the investigation is still going on, but over the last many weeks that drew has tried to get an interview, you wouldn't talk because of an ongoing investigation? now you can talk even though there's an ongoing investigation? >> there is an ongoing investigation. what i want to make sure that everyone knows is that i'm here, i'm accoun...