It's too big, it spends too much on administration and invites fraud.
WASHINGTON — Federal agents Tuesday broke up a billion-dollar Medicare scam that peddled unneeded orthopedic braces to hundreds of thousands of seniors.
Two dozen people were charged, including doctors accused of writing bogus prescriptions.
The Justice Department said the scheme relied on overseas call centres to pry Medicare numbers from beneficiaries.
Authorities also announced charges against owners of call centres, telemedicine firms and medical equipment companies that shipped unneeded back, shoulder, wrist and knee braces.
Profits from the scheme were laundered through offshore shell companies and then used to buy high-end cars, yachts and luxury homes here and abroad, officials said.
Medicare's anti-fraud unit said it's taking action against 130 medical equipment companies implicated.
The companies billed the program a total of $1.7 billion, but not all of it was paid out.
The loss to Medicare was estimated at $1.2 billion.
Officials said the government has options to recoup at least some of the money lost to Medicare.
Quote from: "seoulbro"
WASHINGTON — Federal agents Tuesday broke up a billion-dollar Medicare scam that peddled unneeded orthopedic braces to hundreds of thousands of seniors.
Two dozen people were charged, including doctors accused of writing bogus prescriptions.
The Justice Department said the scheme relied on overseas call centres to pry Medicare numbers from beneficiaries.
Authorities also announced charges against owners of call centres, telemedicine firms and medical equipment companies that shipped unneeded back, shoulder, wrist and knee braces.
Profits from the scheme were laundered through offshore shell companies and then used to buy high-end cars, yachts and luxury homes here and abroad, officials said.
Medicare's anti-fraud unit said it's taking action against 130 medical equipment companies implicated.
The companies billed the program a total of $1.7 billion, but not all of it was paid out.
The loss to Medicare was estimated at $1.2 billion.
Officials said the government has options to recoup at least some of the money lost to Medicare.
I certainly hope this is an isolated incident.
How much does Medicare fork out for illegal immigrants.
Quote from: "Herman"
if it's one dollar, it's a dollar too much.
Consider this in the context of other recent exposes of corruption in the US. Celebrities buying degrees for the privileged spawn. The FBI conspiring to bring down a President with flawed evidence. Public prosecutors exonerating offenders because they are black.
The US is collapsing.
Quote from: "Bricktop"
The US is collapsing.
We have a sitting pm who broke the law. The same pm invited illegal aliens to come here. Foreign billionaires block resource development and kill jobs. We have a motion that is basically a blasphemy law.
Canada has collapsed.
I doubt that corruption is at the level the US seems to be experiencing.
Everyone seems to be in on it.
Quote from: "Bricktop"
Everyone seems to be in on it.
I've lived in both countries. This country is just as corrupt and our pm's are more corrupt than US presidents.
Well, that sucks.
Quote from: "Herman"
Quote from: "Bricktop"
Everyone seems to be in on it.
I've lived in both countries. This country is just as corrupt and our pm's are more corrupt than US presidents.
I never realized how much corruption can exist in the prime minister's office until Justin Trudeau's election.
Quote from: "Bricktop"
Everyone seems to be in on it.
Not so. My province's green energy act was a multi billion dollar fraud riddled with cronyism that taxpayers are on the hook for. There is too much bureaucracy in Canada which of course is a breeding ground for corruption.
Not to mention Western style politics, which is corrupt by definition.
Quote from: "Bricktop"
Today's democracy is owned by rich progs.
And tomorrow's democracy will be owned by poor ones.
Quote from: "Bricktop"
That won't happen. Democracy, freedom of speech/religion, and a strong middle class are on their last legs throughout the West. We created a unique civilization that is the envy of the world, but rich progs are determined to use their vast resources to destroy it.
Which is why tomorrow's world will be populated by poor people.
Quote from: "Bricktop"
Sorry, makes no sense.
Look at Cuba, the Soviet Union, Venezuela. Where socialism flourishes, poverty follows.
Quote from: "Bricktop"
My province of Alberta too.
Exactly.
Quote from: "Bricktop"
I hope your new government doesn't force a host of new job and investment killing regulations like our socialist government did.
Quote from: "Fashionista"
Quote from: "Bricktop"
I hope your new government doesn't force a host of new job and investment killing regulations like our socialist government did.
And the former government of Ontario. They forced a lot of people to choose between diving to work or having electricity.
Quote from: "seoulbro"
Quote from: "Fashionista"
Quote from: "Bricktop"
I hope your new government doesn't force a host of new job and investment killing regulations like our socialist government did.
And the former government of Ontario. They forced a lot of people to choose between diving to work or having electricity.
They had workplaces under water?
That must have been freezing!!!
Quote from: "Fashionista"
Quote from: "Bricktop"
I hope your new government doesn't force a host of new job and investment killing regulations like our socialist government did.
Hope springs eternal...but often in vain.
Like I said elsewhere, this left wing government we're about to be burdened with is the furthest left Australia has ever been.