Feds Settle $6.85 Million in Medicaid Fraud in Child Welfare

Residential Youth Treatment Facility for Medicaid Recipients in Marion, Virginia Agrees to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations

Ladies and gentlemen, witness, before your eyes Medicaid fraud in child welfare.  Today, you are presented with 6.85 million reasons why someone needs to listen to me.  Tomorrow will be a few more million.


Wake up people.  The fraud is rampant.  The children are harmed.

Will Pay $6.85 Million to Settle Allegations of Providing Substandard Adolescent Psychiatric Services Universal Health Services Inc. 

(UHS) and two subsidiaries have reached a settlement in a False Claims Act lawsuit with the United States and the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Justice Department announced today. Under the settlement, UHS and its subsidiaries, Keystone Education and Youth Services LLC and Keystone Marion LLC, which did business as the Keystone Marion Youth Center, a residential facility in Marion, Va., agreed to pay $6.85 million to the United States and the commonwealth to settle allegations that they provided substandard psychiatric counseling and treatment to adolescents in violation of Medicaid requirements, falsified records and submitted false claims to the Medicaid program. UHS closed the Marion facility earlier this year.

This settlement resolves a whistleblower lawsuit filed by Megan Johnson, Leslie Webb and Kimberly Stafford-Payne, former therapists at the closed facility. UHS and its subsidiaries have paid an additional amount under the terms of the agreement to the former therapists to settle their separate discrimination and attorney’s fees claims. The United States and the Commonwealth of Virginia had intervened in the lawsuit on Nov. 4, 2009.

Under the False Claims Act, an entity that submits false or fraudulent claims to the government is liable for three times the government’s damages, plus a civil penalty for each false claim. The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.

“The Justice Department is committed to investigating cases in which health care providers have put patients at risk by failing to meet the appropriate standards of care,” said Stuart F. Delery, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement demonstrates our commitment to protecting the integrity of the Medicaid program and making sure that patients who rely on federal health programs receive the care they deserve.”


“This settlement resolves disturbing allegations that Universal Health Services Inc. and its subsidiaries in Virginia made false records and presented false claims to Virginia Medicaid in connection with sub-standard care to emotionally troubled youth at a residential treatment facility in Marion, Virginia,” said Timothy J. Heaphy, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia. “This result, which provides substantial reimbursement to the Virginia Medicaid program, demonstrates our strong partnership with the Virginia Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and our commitment to use all available means, including civil remedies under the False Claims Act, to combat health care fraud.”

“Any organization providing substandard health services then sending inflated bills to taxpayers, as UHS is alleged to have done, can expect intense scrutiny by government investigators,” said Daniel R. Levinson, Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services. “Those intent on defrauding our programs should know that we will continue to work closely with State law enforcement agencies to fight Medicaid fraud.”

“This settlement, which returns a substantial sum to the Virginia Medicaid program, is a testament to the strength of such a collaborative partnership,” said Ken Cuccinelli, Virginia Attorney General. “This case sends a clear message that fraud and exploitation of our most vulnerable citizens will not be tolerated in the commonwealth.”

Acting Assistant Attorney General Delery acknowledged the efforts made by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia, the Virginia Attorney General’s office, the Civil Division of the Justice Department, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General and the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

This resolution is part of the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud and another step for the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) initiative, which was announced by Attorney General Eric Holder and Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services in May 2009. The partnership between the two departments has focused efforts to reduce and prevent Medicare and Medicaid financial fraud through enhanced cooperation. One of the most powerful tools in that effort is the False Claims Act, which the Justice Department has used to recover $6.7 billion since January 2009 in cases involving fraud against federal health care programs. The Justice Department’s total recoveries in False Claims Act cases since January 2009 are more than $9 billion.

Kids For Sale - Baby LK Report For March 4th 2012

Baby LK recaps the week in news for the child protection industry.

HHS OIG Testifies On Antipsychotropics

Same thing happens in foster care except there is no testimony.
“Overprescribed: The Human and Taxpayers' Costs of Antipsychotics in Nursing Homes” Testimony of: Daniel R....

Dramatic video released of local mother fighting federal officials trying to deport her

Dramatic video released of local mother fighting federal officials trying to deport her

Vesna Djokic came to Michigan seeking asylum

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. (WXYZ) - Dramatic video has surfaced of 37-year-old Vesna Djokic who is seen on camera screaming and pleading with immigration officials to leave her in Michigan. 

"I don't want to leave my family," yells Djokic on the video. "Please God please don't separate me."

On two occasions this summer, the wife and mother of two fought back as federal officials tried to put her on commercial flights and send her back to her homeland of Montenegro.

"She's a role model, mother and wife," says husband Maras Djokic. "I just pray to God this is going to be over."

Vesna Djokic has been pleading with federal officials to stay in Michigan after seeking asylum back in 1994.

She lives in Sterling Heights and works in real estate. Her husband is a cook. According to the family’s attorney, they pay taxes. And they have two children who are American citizens.

"I really miss my Mom and her hugs," says 13-year-old Marcus, the couple's oldest child. "I feel really bad because she's all by herself."

An order of deportation came in 2004, and seven years later in March of this year, officials came to her home and arrested her, right in front of her daughter.

"I miss when me and her used to make cupcakes together," says daughter Isabella. "I love her so much and I can't wait until she comes home. I pray every night."

Twice this summer she yelled and resisted so much, both when she was moved from a transport van and then in front of confused passengers that captains of both flights ordered her and the immigration officials with her off the plane.

Immigration and Customs officials did not return calls from Action News for comment.

The family’s attorney is trying one more time to keep her in metro Detroit. A federal judge is now weighing whether she can stay, based on humanitarian grounds.

The family is asking for monitored release until she can earn status, about two years away, according to attorney Charles Busse.

"Most folk they put their heads down and they let the officers put them on the plane," says Busse. "Vesna Djokic won't do that. She won't go quietly. She's confounded the normal policies and procedures."

For now, Vesna’s two young children, just 13 and 9, rely on visits with their mom to keep her close.

She remains in federal detention.

Another Bethany Christian Services Expose By Judith Faye

Judith Faye, President of Michigan Republican Women's Caucus exposes child welfare fraud in Michigan.  The agency is Bethany Christian Services.



Find out more about Bethany Christian Services.  Make sure to read the last post on the agency's license.

Congressional briefing from Makers of Memories Foundation draws attention to more than 43 million Americans living with impacts of childhood exposure to abuse.

Abuse in foster care is domestic violence.  Children in foster care will age out to become part of these statistics.

Congressional briefing from Makers of Memories Foundation draws attention to more than 43 million Americans living with impacts of childhood exposure to abuse.

NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The first ever Congressional Briefing on the damaging effects of childhood exposure to domestic violence compelled three members of Congress this week to take on the intractable problem and bring more awareness to the issue.

The Makers of Memories Foundation, in partnership with the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Johnson Products, presented research at the October briefing that links childhood exposure to domestic violence with long-term deficits. More than 80% of boys and 77% of girls who experience domestic violence as children go on to repeat it as adults, studies show. These individuals are six times more likely to commit suicide, 50 times more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol and ultimately perpetuate the cycle of violence that leads to an untold loss of human potential. More than 90% of prisoners in the U.S. experienced domestic violence as children.

At the briefing, Representatives Gwen Moore (D-WI), John Conyers (D-MI) and Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), recognized the specific impacts of childhood exposure to abuse and pledged to incorporate the issue in their legislative agendas. Rep. Conyers suggested the need for a Special Session of the House Judiciary Committee to address childhood exposure. All three Members of Congress thanked Makers of Memories for raising awareness about the unaddressed issue.

The Makers of Memories Foundation is the only organization focused on the children impacted by domestic violence and adults who experienced it as children. Described by UNICEF as "one of the most damaging, unaddressed human rights violations in the world today," domestic violence impacts 3 million children in the U.S. and 275 million children worldwide each year. There are 40 million American adults who experienced domestic violence in childhood and still live with the damaging effects.

"The cycle of violence can never stop unless we focus on the children," said Brian F. Martin, Founder and Chairman of the Makers of Memories Foundation. "New research proves exposure to violence alters children's nervous systems and brain chemistry. It literally changes who they are as well as their self-concept. From this day forward, this problem can no longer go unaddressed."

Nebraska To Waste Tax Dollars Traumatizing Babies

Alright, let's have some fun here.  When the mother gives birth on U.S. soil, what do you think will happen?

Foster Care!  That's right, folks.  If an undocumented foreigner residing in the U.S. applies for social assistance, that person is denied.  The baby, once born will be an American citizen and a ward of the state.  The mother will be deported and the child will be placed in foster care.

Will the baby ever get Medicaid?

Yes, automatically upon the rubber stamping of the child protective services petition for removal of the child.

Just think, instead of investing in the best interests of a child to mature and grow to become a productive citizen to pay taxes and be a beneficial part of society, we waste tax dollars on prosecution and deportation of mom.  Then we dump massive amounts of money into the state care of the baby who will eventually be traumatized in foster care, pumped up with psychotropic meds to age out and become another statistic to eventually produce an offspring to be snatched and placed into foster care.

How cold have we become as a nation to deny medical assistance to a baby?  How can one choose to destroy the bonds of a family under the fallacy of saving money?  It will cost more than 10 times the amount of medical and financial assistance to Legally Kidnapped  a baby, dumping it in foster care, than just care about another human.  It becomes so easy to perpetuate this cycle of hate called foster care because no one knows about it.

Stop Child Medicaid Fraud

Illegal immigrant sues Nebraska to get Medicaid for her unborn baby

A nine-months pregnant woman filed suit against Nebraska Aug. 26, alleging that her unborn baby qualifies for Medicaid benefits, even though she is ineligible as an undocumented immigrant.

Sarah Roe (pseudonym), 33, sued the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and the heads of its Division of Children and Families and Division of Medicaid and Long-Term Care in a class-action suit in Lancaster County Court.

The suit contends that the Nebraska Medical Assistance Act includes unborn babies in the category of children under 19 who qualify to receive free medical treatment without regard to the immigration situation of their parents, according to Fox News.

On June 28, a law went into force in Nebraska prohibiting the provision of free prenatal medical services to undocumented foreigners.

Roe said in her lawsuit that when the Nebraska legislature approved the law denying medical services to undocumented mothers, it did not modify the benefits that were available to the children of those mothers, Fox News reported.

“According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, unborn children are not citizens or aliens, and as such are eligible for Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) regardless of the pregnant mother’s immigration status,” according to the text of the complaint. “Thus, under CHIP, states are allowed to provide medical assistance to unborn children, even if a mother is an otherwise ineligible immigrant, if all other eligibility criteria are met.”

The suit asks that the Lancaster County District Court order the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to provide prenatal care regardless of the prospective mothers’ immigration status, according to Fox News.

Roe seeks declaratory judgment and an injunction.

Roe asked that her lawsuit include all pregnant women and their unborn children who were denied coverage under the Nebraska medical aid program, which may include about 1,500 women.

Foster Care False Claims To The Government Will Never Be Prosecuted

This is the same scheme that is used in foster care.

Most of the time, a person will automatically think that these services are only provided to the foster children but the original parents, the ones who have had their children snatched, have to go through services, also.

I remember a case...the memories, where a mother was to go to anger management therapy because she would file complaints.  Not only was this 37 year old woman billed under juvenile coding, but she always found out that her counselor, who had severe challenges conjugating the infinitive "to be" claimed the graduate degrees of someone who had a similar name.  

This "therapist" who had spent about 10 years in prison was so entertaining that when he would come to the mother's house, yes home therapy visits, in the morning, she would invite her friends for high tea and silent laughs at what he was referred as "Brotha Man from the fith flo". 

Brotha Man did not realize that the mother worked with the graduate director of where he claimed to have graduated with two master degrees.  The mother decided to ridicule the director for issuing a degree to someone who could be Brotha Man's twin.

Come to find out through the power of FOIA, Brotha Man lied.  Not only that but the mother found out he was not even licensed by the state.

I should really publish his court report because it is hilarious if one can read through the illiterate chicken scratch.

Once the mother confronted Brotha Man with this information, he disappeared.  The foster care agency continued to bill for counseling that never took place and continued to file claims for the mother under juvenile reimbursement codes.

The state never did anything.  The foster care agency kept billing for phantom services and no one was ever convicted.

 JURY CONVICTS PERMIAN BASIN CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY COUNSELOR OF MAKING FALSE CLAIMS TO THE GOVERNMENT 

United States Attorney John E. Murphy announced that in Midland today, a federal jury found 61-year-old Ismael Hernandez Sanchez of Odessa, Texas, a licensed chemical dependency counselor doing business as “SR & Associates,” guilty of fraudulently billing the Government for an estimated $100,000 in counseling services which he never provided to Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) inmates. 

Testimony provided during trial revealed that in September 2006, Sanchez was selected to be the local provider for substance abuse treatment services to federal offenders who were being supervised by the Court following their federal incarceration and to defendants who were being supervised while their trials were pending. Per the agreement, Sanchez was to perform family counseling at $70/hour, individual counseling at $56/hour and group counseling at $40/hour to BOP inmates being housed at, or supervised by, the Dismas Charities Halfway House in Midland. Testimony further revealed that in 2009, Sanchez filed six separate false claims whereby Sanchez knowingly made false representations to BOP for reimbursement for family counseling services which never occurred. 

Sanchez faces up to five years in federal prison and a maximum $250,000 fine per count. Sentencing has yet to be scheduled. 

This case was investigated by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney John Klassen is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government. 

3 fight arrests at Detroit school for teen mothers April demonstration against school closing was peaceful, 3 say

Guess what will happen to these young mothers and their children.  I will give you a hint...

Protest of the closing of Catherine Ferguson Academy will be 

Thursday, June 16, 2011

@12:00 p.m., noon

2750 Seldon

Detroit, MI 48208

Contact: Nicole

313-310-8871

3 fight arrests at Detroit school for teen mothers

April demonstration against school closing was peaceful, 3 say

Detroit — A teacher, student and alumna from Catherine Ferguson Academy are fighting trespassing charges stemming from what they say was a peaceful protest of the closing of the city school for pregnant students and teen mothers.

"We were fighting for our education," said Tiffini Baldwin, 19, a college student and 2010 CFA graduate who was arrested over an April 15 sit-in. "We were fighting for other people's futures."

Baldwin and Catherine Buckens, a graduating senior, were arraigned Monday at Detroit's 36th District Court. A not-guilty plea was entered for both. They were released on their own recognizance and given a July 11 pretrial date.

Teacher Nicole Conaway is to be arraigned today.

Roughly 15 supporters were outside the courthouse Monday morning.

"There's no way a Detroit jury will convict them for fighting for one of the best schools in the country," said Joyce Schon, attorney for Baldwin and Buckens.

"CFA is a real community. It's like an Underground Railroad for young women who got pregnant. CFA is irreplaceable."

The trespassing charges carry a maximum penalty of a $500 fine or 90 days in jail, said their attorney, Shanta Driver.

Opened in 1986, the academy was targeted for closure as Detroit Public Schools announced plans to turn over some schools to charters in a bid to help trim a $327 million deficit.

According to the district, each CFA student costs $12,619 to educate, compared with an average of $7,600 across the district.

DPS offered CFA to charter operators to unload the building's operational cost of $2.7 million a year.

But plans didn't materialize, and last week officials announced the school would officially close.

About a dozen people were at the library sit-in in April after classes ended, while more than 50 picketed outside, Baldwin said.

Police were called, although classes weren't disturbed and participants acted peacefully, she said.

"We were just holding our ground, and they were treating us as if we were holding someone hostage."

Baldwin and Buckens were arrested and separated from their children, Driver said, noting Conaway also was at school during operating hours.

"To charge someone with trespassing because they were in their own school when it was open is a pretty bogus charge," said Driver, who is also national chair of By Any Means Necessary, a group that defends civil rights.

DPS spokeswoman Jennifer Mrozowski declined to comment on the case Monday.

Meanwhile, supporters are trying to save CFA. A rally is planned there Thursday. "It is a high-performing, extremely successful model of what Detroit can do in terms of creating successful public education," Driver said.

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