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COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM
December 22 - 28, 2009
Medicare fraud capital — one more black eye R. Kenneth Bluh KENNETH’S COMMENTARY The United States Inspector General Daniel R. Levinson said approximately 2 percent of the nation’s diabetics live in Miami-Dade County. He also said that 50 percent of all moneys disbursed by Medicare in the entire nation for diabetic reimbursement are spent in Miami-Dade. Levinson said, “that it might indicate fraud.” Might! How expensive could diabetic medications cost in Miami-Dade? Medicare is spending approximately $500 million a year on diabetic care for seniors in Miami-Dade, with a population of 2.4 million, the same amount it is spending on the rest of the nation’s 305 million people. They call Miami the “Medicare Fraud Capital of America.” Medicare estimates that fraud is costing the American taxpayer $60 billion a year. If we could save that
money we would be well on our way to covering the cost of the expanded health coverage currently being debated in Congress. How is it possible that we are spending, on average, $5,964 a month on each diabetic patient under Medicare coverage in Miami while the national average is $378 a month? The federal government says “a big part of the losses are incurred by the government wanting to quickly pay claims without verifying the bill.” Who pays a bill without looking at it and asking, “Is this correct?” Medicare claims that in the last year it has shut down 33 agencies in Miami that have been billing Medicare illegally. Once closed down they then go across the street and open up a new store and are back in business. Put them in jail and that will put an end to their staying in business. Payment caps proposed to go into effect this year will, it is lamented, hurt the legitimate diabetics who require home care. The government says it will continue to pay for home healthcare for the needy elderly, insisting that their only goal is to stop fraudulent claims. If approximately 50 percent of the
Looking for Something Special for the Kids Stocking? Consider a Custodial Account I am looking for something special for my children’s or grandchildren’s stocking. What do you suggest? If you can afford it, and you feel motivated to do so, I suggest that you put a check in their stocking to be used to open or add to a custodial account. Who controls the money in the custodial account? Custodial accounts are registered under the minor’s name and social security, but the custodian (you) controls the money until the minor is an adult. Is the custodial account more flexible than the Florida Prepaid College Plan or 529 plan? Yes, the Florida Prepaid College Plan and the 529 plan are for educational purposes only. The custodial account can be used for other purposes besides education.
When should you start a custodial account? The sooner the better. The cost of education will continue to rise. I suggest that you get into the “tradition” of making this a yearly item for the stocking. You should have a review of your financial condition prior to investing including a clear understanding of your investment criteria. Rick Tonkinson is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP™) who works with working people in your area since 1991. The family business, Rick Tonkinson & Associates, Inc is located at 100 Almeria Ave, Suite 310, Coral Gables, FL 33134. Telephone # 305447-6617. Securities offered through Securities America Inc member of FINRA/SIPC. Rick Tonkinson Registered Representative. Advisory Services offered through Securities America Advisors, Inc. Rick Tonkinson Investment Advisor Representative. Rick Tonkinson and Associates, Inc. & Securities America companies are not affiliated.
––– VIEWPOINT ––– Medicare fraud is in Miami-Dade why not pour 50 percent of the Inspector General’s staff into our community and clean it up once and for all? So who is guilty? First, the fake service providers that are billing Medicare for services and equipment that are not provided seniors. Then, there are the immoral members of the medical profession that receive bribes for fake referrals. The unsuspecting seniors that are victims of medical identity theft — their Medicare numbers being used fraudulently to make claims. Lastly, there are the seniors who are accepting under the table cash from illegal providers in exchange for the use of their Medicare numbers to make fraudulent claims. They are as guilty as the illegal providers who are billing Medicare for reimbursement for services they have not provided. Seniors, check your “Quarterly Medicare Summary Notice” which you receive in the mail. If you find billings for services you
have not received, send what you have found to The Office of the Inspector General: By email to <www.HHSTips@oig.hhs.gov>; Call 1-800-447-8477; By mail to HHS TIPS, PO Box 23489, Washington, DC 20026, or By fax to 1-800-223-8164. If all seniors checked their Medicare Summary Notices and turned fraudulent claims over to the government for investigation, we would go a long way in saving the taxpayers billions of dollars every year. We appreciate your opinions on this column whether in agreement or disagreement. Please send your comments to (fax number) 305-662-6980 or email to <letters@communitynewspapers.com>. The opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily those of this newspaper, its editors or publisher.
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