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The same federal government that wants to take over the U.S. healthcare system may also be the same federal government who is unwittingly funneling billions of Medicare and Medicaid dollars to Castro’s Cuba.
So worry Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Tom Coburn (R-OK), and Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL) in a letter to Marilyn Tavenner, head of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid.
Hmmm.
From the Washington Examiner:
“Clearly, the program vulnerabilities that facilitate billions of dollars to be stolen from the Medicare program each year also allow for some of that money to be funneled to foreign countries,” the three congressmen said.
“While the fraud itself is unacceptable, the loss of American dollars to foreign countries because of flaws in our system is totally unacceptable. The American people deserve the peace of mind to know that federal officials are doing everything they can to safeguard taxpayers’ dollars and the Medicare program.”
“Thus far, it does not appear that CMS has addressed the concept of nominee owners, false storefronts, and shell companies in any of its enrollment regulations or its Provider Screening statement of work,” they said.
At issue is whether fraudsters are using so-called “nominees” to pose as companies that would receive Medicare and Medicaid dollars and then shuttle them outside the United States.
Last week, the Miami Herald reported one case of an alleged Medicare scam “involving 70 Florida companies and more than $70 million of fraudulent billings” that “ended up in Cuba.”
Alicia O. Valle, special counsel to the U.S Attorney, says “there is no allegation and we have no evidence that the Cuban government is involved in this case."
Cuba defends its banks amid Medicare fraud case
HAVANA -- A Cuban official said Wednesday that the country has strict controls to avoid money laundering and works closely with banks to detect and deter fraudulent transactions, responding to allegations by U.S. prosecutors that millions of dollars defrauded from Medicare were routed to the island's financial system.
The statement from Johana Tablada, deputy director for U.S. affairs at the Cuban Foreign Ministry, came in response to a request from The Associated Press after a Cuban-American man in South Florida was ordered held in the case this week.
"Foreign commercial banks that maintain accounts in Cuban banks are obliged to operate in strict compliance with international and Cuban rules and must guarantee the reliability of their transactions and the correct use of their accounts," read the statement emailed to the AP on Wednesday.
Originally posted by links234
So because of the 50 year old embargo America has instituted against the Cuban government there's no way to follow a paper trail?
One of the most telling things about this piece from breitbart.com is that it only mentions Cuba, while neglecting the other countries that the Miami article alluded to.
Remember patriots, communists are the bad guys. Keep that red scare fresh in your mind.
“While the fraud itself is unacceptable, the loss of American dollars to foreign countries because of flaws in our system is totally unacceptable. The American people deserve the peace of mind to know that federal officials are doing everything they can to safeguard taxpayers’ dollars and the Medicare program.”
originally posted by: links234
Remember patriots, communists are the bad guys. Keep that red scare fresh in your mind.
originally posted by: nukedog
a reply to: sheepslayer247
Yeah that's what grabbed my interest. Billions? No way. They may suspect billions in Medicare Medicaid fraud but if they are trying to say billions are being funneled to Cuba then they must be being deliberately deceptive.
“Clearly, the program vulnerabilities that facilitate billions of dollars to be stolen from the Medicare program each year also allow for some of that money to be funneled to foreign countries,” the three congressmen said.
originally posted by: xuenchen
originally posted by: nukedog
a reply to: sheepslayer247
Yeah that's what grabbed my interest. Billions? No way. They may suspect billions in Medicare Medicaid fraud but if they are trying to say billions are being funneled to Cuba then they must be being deliberately deceptive.
Well somebody did say "Some" of the billions go to "foreign countries" ....
“Clearly, the program vulnerabilities that facilitate billions of dollars to be stolen from the Medicare program each year also allow for some of that money to be funneled to foreign countries,” the three congressmen said.
ARE BILLIONS OF MEDICARE DOLLARS GOING TO CASTRO'S CUBA?
originally posted by: xuenchen
a reply to: sheepslayer247
The "missing" story from the Miami Herald is not surprising.
Why would they 404 the thing?
Can't think of any logical reasons.
Unless ............
“involving 70 Florida companies and more than $70 million of fraudulent billings....ended up in Cuba
originally posted by: jrod
Seriously though, when are we going to do something about the embargo?
Despite its cost to the U.S. government — more than $24 million total since 2006, according to Foreign Policy — very few people on the ground can receive the broadcast, due to the fact that its signal is blocked by the Cuban government.