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Bringing about a higher level of transparency and accountability in provincial and federal governments to help protect taxpayers from abuse.

Former Iowa psychiatrist pleads guilty to health care fraud

A Grinnell, Iowa physician has pleaded guilty in federal court on two counts of health care fraud, says U.S. Attorney Kevin VanderSchel .

Richard Hauser, 66, of North Liberty, submitted claims to Iowa Medicaid and Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield for a more expensive service than was actually performed in order to receive a profit, according to the plea agreement. Hauser “up coded” these services from November 2011 through December 2012 while working at a clinic in Grinnell called The Hauser Clinic.

Source: http://wqad.com/2016/10/19/former-iowa-psychiatrist-pleads-guilty-to-health-care-fraud/

Psychiatrist: Hospital Provokes Patients to Enrich Itself 

A doctor who trained for two years at the psychiatric unit of a New York hospital said in a lawsuit Monday that poor adolescent patients were routinely provoked into acting out, then restrained and drugged, extending their hospitalization and Medicaid payments.Dr. Alfred Robenzadeh said that supervisors at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla retaliated against him when he tried to address what he says was chronic patient abuse that increased the severity of diagnoses, with usual two-week inpatient stays often extended days or weeks. He alleges the practice defrauded Medicaid.

Source: Psychiatrist: Hospital Provokes Patients to Enrich Itself – ABC News

U.S. tax laws, politics pushing more dual citizens to renounce citizenship

s the U.S. election draws near and the prospect of a Donald Trump presidency rises, more dual U.S.-Canadians are considering renouncing their U.S. citizenship.Tax accountants and tax lawyers in Canada say they are getting more calls from people considering giving up their U.S. citizenship, not only over onerous tax filing requirements but also over political objections to a Trump presidency.“We have people inquiring more frequently about renouncing not just for tax reasons but for political reasons,” said Max Reed, a tax lawyer with SKL Tax, a Vancouver-based U.S. advisory service. “I have one person who is so mad at Donald Trump she wants out, now.”

Source: U.S. tax laws, politics pushing more dual citizens to renounce citizenship LEADER POST

5 disturbing facts that show the system is rigged against America’s middle class 

A recent posting detailed how upper middle class Americans are rapidly losing ground to the one-percenters who averaged $5 million in wealth gains over just three years. It also noted that the global 1% has increased their wealth from $100 trillion to $127 trillion in just three years.

The information came from the Credit Suisse 2014 Global Wealth Databook (GWD), which goes on to reveal much more about the disappearing middle class.

Source: 5 disturbing facts that show the system is rigged against America’s middle class – Salon.com

McCollum urges USDA, GAO to investigate government contracts with Planet Aid, affiliated organizations 

ST. PAUL, Minn. (Aug. 17, 2016) — U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum (DFL-MN-5) on Wednesday called for the Government Accountability Office and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Inspector General to investigate the prominent non-governmental organization Planet Aid and affiliated groups following media reports that allege the groups’ may have misused taxpayer dollars.“I urge you to begin a comprehensive inquiry immediately,” Congresswoman McCollum wrote in a pair of letters to Comptroller General Gene Dodaro and USDA Inspector General Phyllis K. Fong. “I hope that such an investigation will be thorough and draw upon whatever resources are necessary to ensure that the issues surrounding this global organization are fully examined.”

Source: McCollum urges USDA, GAO to investigate government contracts with Planet Aid, affiliated organizations | Asian American Press

Three Charged in $1 Billion Medicare/Medicaid Fraud Scheme

Last Friday the Justice Department charged a Miami-area healthcare operator, a hospital administrator, and a physician’s assistant with conspiracy involving submitting fraudulent bills to Medicare and Medicaid exceeding, for the first time, $1 billion.The three included Philip Esformes, the owner of more than 30 Miami-area nursing and assisted-living facilities, hospital administrator Odette Barcha, and physician assistant Arnald Carmouze. They were charged with money laundering, conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government, and receiving kickbacks, along with other charges.The conspiracy had been going on for 14 years, and came to a end with the help of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force (MFSF), which began investigating healthcare fraud in March 2007. Since that time, nearly 3,000 defendants, including doctors, nurses, physicians’ assistants, hospital administrators, pharmacists, and other healthcare providers have been charged with bilking Medicare for more than $10 billion.

Source: Three Charged in $1 Billion Medicare/Medicaid Fraud Scheme THE NEW AMERICAN