Democrats and their enablers in the media are hyperventilating about the GOP’s drive to cap federal Medicaid funding with a series of “block grants” to the states as part of their replacement plan for Obamacare.”25 million people could lose health … Read More
Progressives have already homed in on Republican efforts to privatize Medicare as one of the major domestic political battles of 2017. If Donald J. Trump decides to gut the basic guarantee of Medicare and revamp its structure so that it … Read More
After more than a year of delays, Texas is officially kicking Planned Parenthood out of the state’s Medicaid program. In a move that could affect thousands of low-income women, state health officials on Tuesday delivered a final legal notice to … Read More
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Some $350 million in cuts to a Texas Medicaid program providing therapy for disabled children have taken effect.The reductions sparked outcry after being approved by the GOP-controlled Legislature last year.They reduce revenue for some Texas therapy … Read More
On Dec. 7, 2016, just in time for the holiday season, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a policy statement regarding the nominal value of gifts that healthcare providers may give to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. In short, the … Read More
The Illinois General Assembly opted to expand Medicaid through Obamacare in May 2013. This expansion created a new Medicaid category for able-bodied adults ages 19-64 with incomes below 138 percent of the federal poverty level. But the Medicaid program was … Read More
At 59 years old, Bill Miller is starting to have neck and back problems. Thirty-two years of bending over to check patients’ teeth and gums will do that, he said.Miller is the only dentist in Hill City, a community of … Read More
HOUSTON – Two brothers have been convicted on charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud and money laundering, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Kevin Olufemi Davies, 29, and his brother Melvin Olusola Davies, 28, owned and … Read More
Former Gov. Rick Perry is President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for secretary of energy, CBS and MSNBC reported Monday night.The apparent choice followed Perry’s meeting with the president elect in New York Monday, his second post-election meeting with Trump at Trump … Read More
Rick Perry, who proposed eliminating the U.S. Energy Department during his unsuccessful bid for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, has emerged as a leading candidate to head the agency under President-elect Donald Trump, a transition official said on Sunday.Democratic U.S. … Read More
A Charlotte woman was sentenced in federal court this week to 16 years in prison for orchestrating an $11 million Medicaid fraud scheme, authorities said Thursday.Cynthia Teresa Harlan, 49, was sentenced Wednesday following a July conviction on one count each … Read More
Two former employees of an Iowa dental-office chain told authorities the company was billing Medicaid for procedures that were unnecessary or weren’t being performed – leading to a $300,000 settlement of fraud allegations. Lifepoint Dental Partners, which has five clinics, … Read More
DALLAS — Founders and investors of the physician-owned Forest Park Medical Center (FPMC) in Dallas, other executives at the hospital, and physicians, surgeons, and others affiliated with the hospital, have been charged in a federal indictment, returned by a grand … Read More
There may be help on the way for tens of thousands of disabled Texas children on the verge of losing much needed therapy to budget cuts.State House Speaker Joe Straus told the Texas Tribune lawmakers will work to make sure … Read More
The three for-profit companies managing Iowa’s Medicaid program continue to lose tens of millions of dollars on the project, a report released Wednesday shows.The companies, Amerigroup, AmeriHealth Caritas and UnitedHealthcare, reported losses ranging from 18 percent to 25 percent for … Read More
December 1, 2016 — The number of U.S. children receiving dental care significantly increased from 2000 to 2014, according to a new study in Pediatrics. Even more positively, the researchers found a steep narrowing of coverage disparities in race/ethnicity and … Read More
DALLAS (AP) – Prosecutors say a Texas woman who operated a home health care company has pleaded guilty in a case linked to more than $40 million in fraudulent services. Myrna S. Parcon pleaded guilty Tuesday in Dallas to conspiracy … Read More
President-elect Donald Trump unveiled two big health care decisions Tuesday.He picked Rep. Tom Price to head the Department of Health and Human Services and tapped Seema Verma, a health care consultant, to head the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. … Read More
The idea by president-elect Donald Trump to change how Medicaid coverage for poor Americans is financed by giving block grants of money to states will face a tough time becoming a reality.Medicaid, which is jointly funded by federal and state … Read More
Operators of two Fort Defiance medical transportation companies have been sentenced to prison for health-care fraud after collecting more than $3 million from a government health program for thousands of trips that never occurred, federal prosecutors said.Sylvia Begay, 50, who operated Hozho Nahasdlii … Read More
Attorney General Ken Paxton announced today that a former Medicare provider, Chimaroke Echenwune, has been convicted of conducting fraudulent Medicare and Medicaid programs, attempting to steal more than $1.3 million through illegal practices. Echenwune worked with his wife and 13 … Read More
When President-elect Donald Trump tweeted Sunday — without evidence — that “millions” of people voted illegally in the race for the White House, he invited a wrath of condemnation for again stoking doubts about the U.S. election system. But in … Read More
A nursing home chain’s lawsuit against the state of Kansas hinges largely on the state’s failure to implement an electronic system to verify the assets of people applying for Medicaid. But Kansas is far from the only state to fall … Read More
Think less federal funding, more state control, fewer participants and higher costs for those in the program. Here’s how Medicaid works now: Nearly 73 million Americans are on Medicaid or the related Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The programs cost … Read More
Rick Perry, the former Texas governor under consideration for a spot in President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet, faces questions over a potential conflict of interest due to his service on the board of a company building an oil pipeline delayed by protests. … Read More
Former Gov. Rick Perry, fresh off a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump, returned Tuesday to “Dancing with the Stars” for its season finale. Perry, who was eliminated from the ABC show in September, came back to join rapper Vanilla Ice … Read More
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (State agency) claimed Federal Medicaid reimbursement for some nonemergency medical transportation (NEMT) services that did not comply with Federal or State requirements. Of the 200 sample items, 82 complied with Federal … Read More
Pfizer (PFE -0.6%) takes exception to the release of Medicaid rebate data to state lawmakers by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. The agency, which initially said no, acquiesced after the Texas Attorney General determined that the release would … Read More
On Donald Trump’s victory Republicans in Congress are primed for an ambitious agenda, and not a moment too soon. One immediate problem is ObamaCare’s expansion of Medicaid, which has seen enrollment at least twice as high as advertised.Most of the … Read More
Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology will pay more than $10 million in a settlement over Medicare and Medicaid fraud the firm committed.Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman and United States Attorney Robert L. Capers announced Wednesday that Zwanger & Pesiri Radiology Group, LLP, Zwanger … Read More
As the next president begins to plan for America’s future health care needs, including the Medicaid safety net that catches and takes care of the poor, Donald Trump might be called the new kid on the “block.”That sobriquet stems from … Read More
Massachusetts auditor Suzanne Bump’s office identified $15.45 million in public benefits fraud in fiscal 2016, a 12 percent increase over last year, according to an annual report released Tuesday.”This is not an indication of more fraud, but that we are … Read More
FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration agents were seen going in and out of Family Medicine in the 1600 block of Callaghan Road taking pictures.More News HeadlinesArrest made in robbery of NW Side pizza delivery manSuspect linked to theft of tires, … Read More
A former Medicare provider who owned an ambulance company has been found guilty of engaging in organized crime after deceiving dozens of mentally disabled patients and attempting to steal more than $1.3 million through fraudulent Medicare and Medicaid programs, the … Read More
RICHMOND — A new report suggests that when it comes to oral health, Virginia has room for improvement. The state earned a C+ on a new report card released by the Virginia Oral Health Coalition, which was compiled by examining data … Read More
A metro Atlanta dentist has pleaded guilty to defrauding the Georgia Medicaid program of nearly $1 million. Dr. Oluwatoyin Solarin, who had offices in Doraville and Duluth, had some employees of her Care Dental practice back-date claims for patients whose … Read More
Millions of low-income Americans on Medicaid could lose their health coverage if President-elect Donald Trump and a Republican-controlled Congress follow through on GOP proposals to cut spending in the state-federal insurance program. The biggest risk for Medicaid beneficiaries comes from … Read More
The New York State Department of Health claimed Federal Medicaid reimbursement for dental services billed by a New York City dentist that did not comply with certain Federal and State requirements. Of the 100 randomly selected claims that we reviewed, … Read More
No sooner had Donald Trump shocked the political world by winning the presidency than Texas Republicans turned to a new discussion: How much influence will the Lone Star State have in the next White House? Throughout his campaign, Trump cultivated … Read More
Medicaid Commissioner Stephanie Azar urged lawmakers not to abandon a plan to change to a system of managed patient care, a sweeping change that might be in jeopardy because of uncertain funding. The Legislature’s contract review committee today temporarily blocked … Read More
