From other articles I have read Medicare fraud has become so easy that 1 mil is nothing compared with the multi billions that is stolen every year. Politicians say they want small govt, well that means small enforcement = crooks getting away with billions. Ive also read for every $1 put into enforcement $5 is gotten back in either preventing fraud or getting money back.

With OBAMA's Third Reich, illegals will be taking over Medicare

Nothing to do with Obama, Third Reich or illegals. Don't you know the biggest Medicare fraud in history (1.7 billion dollars) was created by Rick Scott, gov of Florida. Yes he is white, American and Republican. He also got the biggest fine ever but no jail time. So if you must post about medicare fraud being accurate adds a little validity and interest. It is more accurate to post if you are white, American and Republican and create Medicare Fraud it is unlikely you will go to jail but just pay a fine out of the 100's of millions you stole. If you are Black chances are you will go to jail and pay a fine.

Yes, US banksters stole hundreds of billions only to be bailed out by the US government.

square dude

Politicians say they want small govt, well that means small enforcement = crooks getting away with billions.

I reject your claim that any cut in government spending automatically means a cut in fraud enforcement.

One million in Medicare fraud? Whoopee. This scenario plays itself out daily across the U.S. many fold usually at the hands of Nigerians. Where is the Medicare watchdog? Close the door on Nigerians - please. They are yet another big leak in our collapsing roof.

I agree with Dick. Change this guy's color to white and he bears a striking resemblence to the Florida Governor Rick (Skeletor) Scott. Unklike this guy, instead of being nabbed in Canada, Scott sits in the Florida mansion figuring out how to make back his money he spent on his election. SCUMBAG!!!

Yo scooter

yeah, that's right Moe Rawn, its wrong for private citizens to bilk the program intended to do good for those in need

looks like his eyes were gon'a pop out of his head...just can't believe he got caught...should have wore sunglasses...

if they go to jail they will just be as usual except locked up.

Big profit potential, almost no hard time, safer than being a drug dealer and a certain amount of prestige in the community till caught.

Common Sense, Yes, the majority of the Nigerians are engaged in all kinds of fraudulent and criminal activities (i.e. Medicare, welfare, food stamps, illegally renting basement apartments and tax cheating, e-mailing and luring people as false Lottery winners etc.) here in America and all over the world. We must have a very strict law in place to arrest those evil rogues and shameless criminals where ever they are and punish every one of them very severely. The USA also must shut the door on the Nigerians, Pakistanis and other rouge countries who are knowingly helping and abating the terrorists, killers and all kinds of scum artists and criminals. We must punish those lowlife evil b@stards and wrongdoers and save tax-payers hard earned money. That is a must.

It will be interesting to see how different this guy is treated than similar offendors were treated during the Bush years. The stolen Iraq aid money being an example. Billions stolen, but no jail time handed down.

You can thank the liberals and their fudged up entitlment programs for this one. Just think of how much money the Fed is throwing into the pockets of criminals like this. The Fed also pays their employees astronomical wages with insane benefits, a complete waste of money. My friend works for the Treasury Dept., she makes $70K/yr right now (thats her starting wage fresh out of a crappy state college) and recieves about $20K in bonuses; now the Fed is giving her a $30K rasie to go to Iowa with a $15K bonus on top of the $20K bonuses she already gets. She's 25 years old. Would you like to rethink your thoughts on our government spending, stupid liberals... LETS SPEND MORE!!!

For those readers and posters who want HARD FACTS the below short yet comprehensive article, with the source material listed in footnotes, states that the FRAUD and WASTE in Medicare is somewhere between 3% and 10% of total healthcare costs in the U.S. This does indeed total billions of taxpayer dollars but is nowhere near the amount many sensationalists claim. The article further claims, although no figures are published by the private healthcare industry, the amount of fraud in the private sector is also as high or perhaps higher.

http://www.smpresource.org/Content/NavigationMenu/AboutSMPs/MedicareFraudEstimatesAMovingTarget/Medicare_Fraud_Estimates.pdf

So Scrambolo, are you condoning what this guy did? just askin'

he should be forced to use Obama care...that'll teach him!!

There is so much fraud in all the government "Help" programs. If our government would spent the effort to fix these programs, the deficit could be cut in half.

Is he in our country illegally?

These news stories always seem to omit this piece of information.

Arthur66, Read first sentence an American citizen.

I have often wondered how our government really makes criminals like this pay their dues and receive their just punishment handed down by the courts.

I still think we the civilian tax payers are the ones eventually forced to pay for these criminals who "our (wonderful, proud and mighty) government suddenly feels they have a charge and claim against. This is done in a very sneaky, stealthy way but eventually you and I are the ones who pay everything for these criminals, just like we are paying more and more for our political (government) criminals. [Remenber "Fiscal Cliff". Remember the final results of the supposed agreement to avert it. And, we still haven't heard the end of either of these!]

Anyone think that the government can get this wildfire under control? This guy is small potatoes.

One of the main things The Affordable Health Care Act has planned on doing is going after Medicare/Medicaid fraud and to prosecute the criminals... Stopping the waste, which is in the billions...

The waste is awful, but the harm it does to the people who need medical attention is worst...

Ebeneser said:

You can thank the liberals and their fudged up entitlment programs for this one

Woaaah wait, are you saying you want to get rid of Medicare? As in, the health care that all of our Grandparents are on?? That seems kinda harsh...

A 9 year sentence is pathetic.

Guys like this should do hard time, no problems there. We do need to be careful in our calls for the gestapo though. Honest, hard-working health care professionals are also paying the price for crimes like these. The cost of compliance with very complex Medicare regulations is extremely high, and the consequences of honest mistakes can be severe civil penalties and jail. I've sat through health care conference presentations where an armed OIG agent basically threatened the entire audience with jail time for billing errors. I believe compliance costs will lead many providers to eventually reject Medicare patients all together.

Kent McMillen:

RE: your post #1.17

No I do NOT condone the actions of any thief! The point I tried to make, although rather poorly, in my post is that the far-right actually believes that MOST people are commiting fraud with the Medicare and Medicaid Programs. I, through the attached article, wanted to point out that the fraud commited is around 3% to 10%. It is still a huge figure in dollars (billions of dollars). Also it is estimated that the private insurance industry is defrauded as much or perhaps more according to the article. Bottom line is that 97% of Medicare recipients have worked and paid for this BENEFIT. It is NOT an entitlement. It, like Social Security, is paid for, in advance and monthly, through your payroll deductions. In short it is NOT a free program provided by the U.S. Government. Repeating, I do NOT condone the actions of this criminal.

gm Tramp

I thought he was a politician until I read that he owned a company.

Actually for a second I was hoping it was our thief in chief for Floriduh Governor Rick Scott. Then I remembered that he went through a lengthy investigation after the LARGEST medicare fraud in history as CEO of Columbia/HCA. I guess the guy found in Canada should have done like Tricky Ricky and just plead the fifth about a hundred times and maybe he would have gotten off "Scott" free just like Rick. Wonder where the Tea Party outrage of government fraud was when Scott (a TP candidate) was elected?

How do I hit the LIKE button for this one! Good one, it was what I was completely expecting!

This guy has South Side Chicago politician or preacher written all over him.

I'm sure he was one of those 'job creators' we are supposed to protect.

This sort of thing is why I favor higher taxes for the wealthy. Too often they become wealthy in the same way this guy did. Obama has said he wants to clamp down on Medicare fraud. This is his opportunity! Let's all follow this to its conclusion, and see what happens to him!

Is that Bernie Mack....I though he was dead.

kent

Obama has said he wants to clamp down on Medicare fraud. This is his opportunity! Let's all follow this to its conclusion, and see what happens to him!

He will join the GOP/TP, run for governor and get elected.

Ops sorry, wrong color.

Why do we need to pay for ELECTRICAL SCOOTERS TO BEGIN WITH? Have you watched the constant barrage of commercials promoting "FREE" scooters?

If you want an electrical scooter, than buy it yourself!!!

So sad that docs and other medical professionals will rob the gov't when claiming to help the elderly. Its quite disgusting, and has nothing to do with politics. We take care of our elderly because they paid their dues, and now scoundrels and greedy mongrels capitalize on it, just like what happens with welfare etc, and then the GOP threaten to take it away. Who suffers the most then???? Our disabled and elderly, of course!!!

I agree with all thay you said but.... this is not a single party problem - it is an American culture issue.

Political Royalty

Rev1240041: Scott is a republican, and was supported by the Tea Party, even after he was found to be a crook! So much for their professing to want clean government! This is one of those opportunities to watch what they do rather than what they say!

How about the cheater in the WH?

Sad this ass was doing this but it's a drop in the bucket compared to what the medical industry steals from Medicare.

How about that guy that spent $20 million taxpayers dollars on a one week Hawaii vacation around Christmas. Oh, he gets a free pass; he's a Democrat.

Please tell us exactly what provision of Obamacare you think is going to cause harm.

ObamaCare is an important bill that needed passage. The only way it passed the Congressional deadlock was to remove some of the important cost-saving measures, like prescription drug cost control, and doctor offices' administrative fees... Republicans are hell-bent on maximizing profit, even if it kills our medical system for 98% of the people in this country. Those changes will happen as it is amended over the next four - six years. It was the best the Democrats could do, given the fact that the Republican Party is owned and financed by Big Business, and was harassed by the medical insurance and big pharmaceutical industries. For most of us, after the foot stomping is over - our annual medical costs will go down. That's a good start. Then maybe we can make medical / healthcare fraud a capital offense.

EarlyOut-1524710

Please tell us exactly what provision of Obamacare you think is going to cause harm.

The law that increases the tax on Health Savings Account withdrawals

The law that increases federal taxes to pay for community health centers

The reduction of funds for Medicare Advantage plans for 20% of seniors

The law that increases the income threshhold for claiming itemized medical deductions

The law that imposes a new "insurance industry fee", which will be passed on to consumers

The law that requires healthy people to obtain "acceptable" health insurance coverage or pay a fine

The law that imposes a 40% excise tax on high-value insurance plans

and the list goes on.......

IA Scooter - Obamacare gave actual meat to the funding of HEAT - the DOJ's Medicare Fraud task force. As a result, in the last few years they've made consecutive record-breaking Medicare fraud busts continually beating all-time highs for arrests and recovery. That money saved goes back into savings in Medicare costs, and actual patient care.

See their site - www.stopmedicarefraud.gov

Not to mention a 3.8% tax when you sell your house.

Gary, the 3.8% tax is a lie. Made up by I don't know who, the the tax law on the sale of a house has not changed. You can sell you house and make $250,000 if you are single or $500,000 if married and pay no taxes on it. Get real. Obamacare did not change that.

Obamacare has NO checks and balances so it WILL cost 20% more than projections on that basis alone. The GAO's General Auditor position is now a political appointment by the Democratic Senate and totally ineffective ... just what Congress and the President want btw. Remember Arthur Andersen & Co? Same ole good ole boy stuff ... only now it's a gal.

verno

Gary, the 3.8% tax is a lie.

The 3.8% tax is not a lie. Starting this year, the health law will impose a 3.8% tax on investment profits and other non-wage income. What is a lie is that it will apply to all home sales. It will only apply to home sales for individuals who make $200k or more AGI ($250k for couples), and the first $250k of profit ($500k for couples) is still exempt from the tax.

Some of you are committing a classic mistake. You're looking at all of the costs of this legislation (though some of you are mischaracterizing some of those costs), but not accounting for the benefits. Obamacare was enacted because almost every economist and health care specialist who examined its provisions concluded that in the long run, it would save all of us money.

Just consider the case of people with no health insurance. Do they not get medical care? They don't get care when they should. Instead, they wait until they're in dire straits, then show up at the emergency room. Who do you think is paying for that care? The rest of us are.

We're passing up the real bonanza, however - single-payer. Virtually every country that has single-payer gets objectively better health care (measured in things like life expectancy, hospitalization rates, productive work time lost to illness, etc.), yet at about half the cost of what we're shelling out.

The 3.8% tax on investment income also applies only to high-income tax payers. And for home sales, the first $250k/$500k of profit is still excluded.

EarlyOut-1524710

Some of you are committing a classic mistake. You're looking at all of the costs of this legislation (though some of you are mischaracterizing some of those costs), but not accounting for the benefits. Obamacare was enacted because almost every economist and health care specialist who examined its provisions concluded that in the long run, it would save all of us money.

Wrong. You are making a classic mistake when you characterize Obamacare as a zero-sum game. Even if the cost of the health care remained static we would lose the extra amount siphoned off by the various levels of government that "administer" and "regulate" the process.

Just consider the case of people with no health insurance. Do they not get medical care? They don't get care when they should. Instead, they wait until they're in dire straits, then show up at the emergency room. Who do you think is paying for that care? The rest of us are.

Exactly. But the Emergency Care act was an unfunded mandate, which meant that I had to pay for emergency room care for indigents in my state, where the hospitals billed the paying customers to provide for the non-paying customers. Now I get to not only support indigents in my state, but other states as well. And they no longer have to wait until they are in dire straits. Consider this, quoted from Forbes Magazine:

The new taxes are complex and escalate depending upon a person or family’s income. They have basically three tiers:

• Flat fee: The first tier for lower income taxpayers is fixed, starting at $95 for calendar year 2014 (the first year the mandate is effective), $325 in 2015, and $695 in 2016 and beyond. The total family penalty is capped at 300% of this flat dollar tax — $2,085 in 2016 – for those earning less than about $110,000, according to the CRS.
• Percentage of income: The next tier is based upon a percentage of income: 1.0% in 2014, 2.0% in 2015, and 2.5% thereafter.
• Cost of a basic health plan: However, as household income increases, eventually the percentage tax will rise to equal the cost of the national average premium for a “bronze-level health plan,” where it is capped. (The bronze plan is expected to be the least expensive plan in the line-up of policies that will be offered through the ObamaCare health insurance exchanges. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that in 2016 the cost of a bronze-level plan for a family would be between $12,000 and $12,500 a year.)

I can give you an answer but you have to answer me this: The way you phrased your question, it sounds like you are saying its no big deal. Since it is the same it should be allowed?

The answer: there is NO difference. they are all illegal and needs to be reigned in. It has to start somewhere and even chump change adds up over time.

Another question for you: Obamacare (while not perfect, is better than nothing for many) will finally allow kids that previously could not get insurance due to "pre-existing conditions" to now be insured. Without going on a rant, please answer why they should not get insurance? (If you repeal Obamacare, this is what will happen)

The answer is that undocumented immigrants aren't eligible for Medicare or Social Security. In fact, they often DO pay into it, since it's deducted from the pay they receive. So they're paying in, but never collecting.

But you knew that already, right? RIGHT?

Early, that only happens when they have an Illegal SS# and are paid like the rest of us. When they are paid under the table nothing is deducted.

EarlyOut. You are totally wrong, but you knew that didnt you? Illegals in our area of Florida are all Paid in cash, no Social Number Required. Our Illegals get free housing, Free Medical Care, and Free Clothing, Free Food, Free Phones, Free Education for there Illegal children. Plus anything they can steal. If, and that is a BIG if, they are required to have a Social Security number for anything, they either make one up, or steal a number from some else. Actually there are people who have lists of social security numbers that the Illegals can purchase.

Nice going wascigarguy,Earlyouted is out,OUT! stop confusing people who rant with facts,FACTS......now he's gone,GONE

janine

When they are paid under the table nothing is deducted.

And who is paying them under the table?

If they're paid under the table, in cash, then they are neither paying into the system, nor collecting from it. Zero gain/loss to the system. If they're paid normally, with deductions, then they are paying into the system, but still not collecting from it. The system comes out ahead.

This really isn't complicated.

Early: you didn't answer the question. WHO is paying them under the table????

They are paid in cash, but they still pay sales tax if they buy anything. How the heck does one get free clothes??? Salvation Army? Have you seen what illegals wear? They dress nicer than I do! At least, the girls do. Also, they could just be citizens and I'm being racist by saying they are "illegal". Do any of you know what an illegal looks like? Just because they can't speak a word of English? Yeah ok, talk about prejudiced.

Anyway, they still pay sales tax, still pay the Metro for transport (if not for gas cuz they don't own a car), still pay for other supplies depending on what they do where they get paid "under the table." Its not like their money doesn't circulate back into the economy!!!

Domewars, You are EXACTLY RIGHT! We must rein in fraud, to hold costs down and fulfil the goal of national health coverage, to stop people from dying for lack of health care!!

Does this mean they're coming to get my powerchair?

Carl. The answer to your question is YES, and we will pick up any weapons you may have also. LOL

@wascigarman ! thanks for the laugh, I sure need it this morning.

Would this Island be named "Cannibal Island" or "Zombie All You Can Eat Buffet Island" or better yet "Despicable Island Retreat".

It will be VERY INTERESTING to see what changes to Mr. Obama's anti-fraud provisions are made by conservatives when they have a chance to do so! This will show where their true allegiance is!

Casual, what about the black guy with the Harvard degree sitting in the white house and doing the same thing?

Race isn't the issue. Theft is theft.

Janine, he's not black. He's as much white as he is black. Must be the racist in you oozing out. And how, exactly, is he ripping off the system? 'Obamacare' is a word coined by rightwingnut entertainers like Limbaugh and O'Reilly. It has nothing to do with this article and every time the phrase 'Obamacare' is used it's probably by some upset Republican who has to sit back and watch their party self-destruct. I suspect the libs are enjoying the cons 'come to Jesus' moment but before we can solve problems we need to not BE a problem.

Janine, while I agree that race is not an issue, I do have to wonder how someone like Rick Scott can become governor of FL after committing the LARGEST case of medicare fraud in history. Causal is right in that the rules and laws are not applied equally or Rick Scott would be in one of the prisons he's now trying to sell to the highest for profit bidder. Wrong is wrong.

Scott got elected because we have the attention span of a gnat. All anyone has to do is lay low for 5-6 months, and it's like nothing ever happened.

How do you think so many politicians get re-elected? This big 'do-nothing' band we have in DC right now, look at how many folks are really pissed at them for wasting our time and money by putting them there, then look at how many of them will get re-elected when the time comes.

We never learn; we just keep making the same mistakes over and over. Pols in DC know this. They're counting on this to keep them in office.

Scott got elected:

1. Because the all the middle class and wealthy white elderly people in Floriduh vote Republican. They don't want to spend any of their taxes on young people, education, public services, environmental protection, etc... Scott is exactly what they wanted and got.

2. ONE THIRD (1/3) of ALL kids in Floriduh are on medicaid. Republican policies of no more taxes and no job creation for middle class young people cause young people to be poor in Floriduh. Young people have very low motivation to get involved in politics and vote. Scott would have never been voted in if they did.

The only good news is that as the elderly white elites in Floriduh die off, it will be much harder for someone like Scott to get voted in.

The scenario of a black guy in the boardroom stealing billions would never happen. He would have hit the glass ceiling and never made it to that level. However Black or White billions or millions wrong is wrong. They should all go to jail. Not be given a bailout and the majority of the bailout money being given out in bonus'.

Because the all the middle class and wealthy white elderly people in Floriduh vote Republican

You obviously have never been to Miami-Dade County, BTW Obama won Florida in Nov.

ONE THIRD (1/3) of ALL kids in Floriduh are on medicaid

Citation please....or is misspelling Florida to make you feel better all you can post?

government is the one who makes the laws where they can steal but it is legal.

I dream of the day, when it is as hard to cheat the government as it is to cheat an insurance company! And that penalties are similar!

Sounds like you live in the Dearborn-Detroit area.

MMC(SS),I already love your Mom for doing this.My Mom always inspects her medical bills even though she has insurance for life as a retiree of the state of California.TEll your mother that this taxpayer says thank you.

Yeah Wow! Who could imagine this happening?

dale,I caught a doctor of a friend who was on MediCAl over billing.I called MediCal,they investigated him,he went to prison and his license to practice in California was revoked.He had been over billing all of his MediCAl patiensts.As a taxpayer I take it as a personal affront when the medical professionals rip off MediCal and Medicare.All those on Medicare or private health insurance for that matter should be checking their statements thoroughly.It's up to all of us to make sure that we and our tax dollars are not being ripped off.

mg do not insult the monkies by comparing him to them

Why people continue to refer to either political party as the "third reich" is a sad commentary on how issues are interpreted. No one in our country could ever begin to imagine the personal terror and fear evoked by Hitler and his henchmen. We are so fortunate to be able to speak out against and for national issues, especially on an electronic platform that is instant and wide-spread. Thank whatever powers that be that we are Americans and love to argue, laugh at each other and ourselves and stand together when times are challenging.

Ditto Antwan. I'm white and I see things the same as you. When I cough up my taxes in April I see green also.

I don't see Medicare or Social Security as entitlement programs. These are programs that I have invested in(not by choice, but I have invested in them none the less). The near bankruptcy of these programs was not done by the taxpayers that were forced to support it, it was done by the politicians who diverted so much of the funds to other social programs that had no chance of sucess. But, it did win votes for certain lawmakers from certain districts. I see no difference in these ponzi schemes and those that someone else, say Bernie Madoff, dreamed up. And if Bernie deserves to be behind bars, I think that a hell of a lot of our politicians do too. They are no purer than Madoff. Bottom line....we have been duped by our brilliant lawmakers who said with a smile, "Trust me on this!"

As for fraud to Medicare/SS and other entitlement programs, get a backbone judicial department and make a real example out of these people instead of insisting that they should be reformed(at the expense of the taxpayers that they stole from).

You could not have put it better. They all need to be punished and pay back. Including this Leonard Nwafor.

TR, You're a Republican when pigs fly.