Friday, February 18, 2011

$6.5 million for hemorrhoid removals??


From Yahoo News:  Federal authorities charged more than 100 doctors, nurses and physical therapists in nine cities with Medicare fraud Thursday, part of a massive nationwide bust that snared more suspects than any other in history.

More than 700 law enforcement agents fanned out to arrest dozens of people accused of illegally billing Medicare more than $225 million. The arrests are the latest in a string of major busts in the past two years as authorities have struggled to pare the fraud that's believed to cost the government between $60 billion and $90 billion each year. Stopping Medicare's budget from hemorrhaging that money will be key to paying for President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.
The idea behind Medicaid was to help eligible individuals and families with low incomes and resources. It's a program intended to help the needy: funded by federal and states budgets. We taxpayers pay for the program. Fraud is a way to exploit the system, which in turn ends up making the system more difficult to support. 

Of course criminals don't stop for a second to think the social repercussions of their actions. That's a given. But then, they are not smart enough to make it more difficult for authorities to see it. Take the case of Dr.  Boris Sachakov from Brooklyn as an example: 
A Brooklyn, N.Y., proctologist was charged with billing $6.5 million for hemorrhoid removals, most of which he never performed. Dr. Boris Sachakov claimed he performed 10 hemorrhoid removals on one patient, which authorities said is not possible. An employee who answered at Sachakov's office declined comment Thursday. Sachakov had been arrested last year on charges related to a separate scam. Sachokov denied the charges.
This individual is a white-collar criminal and pretty bad at it. How could someone be so stupid to charge $6 million for hemorrhoid removals that were not performed? What can make someone so blind by greed that he can risk loosing everything? Money.

I'll close this post on Thursday, February 24 @ 11pm.

23 comments:

  1. It’s been difficult to believe in people these days. As I said on my last post, people have forgotten their role in the society. Money has become the main reason why people became unethical and selfish. These type of professional should lost their right of practicing their jobs and pay everything they have stolen so far. Unfortunately the health care program has not been approved yet. I have a good experience using the public health care from my country, and I do believe that it is an obligation of the nation. The state should provide free health care to all citizens (taxpayers). If someone have the financial condition to pay for a health insurance, great; after all, we live in a capitalism society where insurances companies should exists. However, because of the inequality generated by the capitalism system, those who do not have the same finnancial condition should receive this medical assistance. In addition to that, laws should be made in order to supervise these types of shameful action.
    --
    Filipe de Almeida

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  2. Individuals have forgotten the main reason as to why people become professionals in any study field. When someone decides to become a doctor, is should be that they make the effort to help the ill, and not to engage themselves to make money. It is clear and safe to say that humanity is corrupt. People have their minds on money, creating this selfish being that it reaches to the point that they commit moral wrong doings. What is the point of coming to "America" when capitalism isn't put into action. As one of myn classmates says : If we live in a capitalist country insurance companies should exists, especially health insurance. It all comes down to the people, it all comes down to those who areon the lead( the professionals). People forgot the main reason to be what they wanted to be. If you want to be a doctor, do it to help the ill, if you want to be a lawyer, do it to fight for the innocent and for justice. If not what is the point of becoming one!

    Meleny Lastra

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  3. Who would think that a doctor who has spent many years getting numerous degrees, and entering such a nobel profession would need to cheat the government and tax payer because of greed?
    One would think in this economic climate where legislators calling for reducing funding for programms like medicare there would be tighter control on how the money is dispersed.
    Pharmaceutical companies keep raising their prices because they know that medicare would go along with whatever price they ask for the pills and medicine they manufacture. The same pill we can purchase on gthe internet from Canada at a price of $10, we are charged approximately three times the amount here in the United States Of America. If one questions the pharmaceutical companies of how high the price is they would argue because of all the research and how costly it is.
    The pharmaceutical companies never mnention the fact that they are among the wealthiest and most profitable companies int he world as can be attested to by their shareholders.
    There isn't a week that goes by without reading an article about a clinic or doctor defrauding medicare. As bad as that problem is, it is nothing compared to what legitimate doctors do to the system. Go to a doctor witha cold and you have a chance of getting a battery of test that has nothing to do with the cold. They do this deliberately knowing that medicare will "foot" the bill.
    There is no centrallaw enforcement agency that enforces medicaid fraud (it is up to each state to "police" and enforce medicaid fraud and that is the problem) Let use Florida as an example. It has the most cases of medicaid fraud in the nation as evidence all these clinics that pop up with fake customers and documentations where there is no treatment ot service yet medicaid is billed for everyone who has seen an "invisible" doctor.
    We as citizens take risk and take advantage of the system. We never do think about the consequences, never think long term?

    Unique

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  4. What is it about money that makes people so ugly? Paper money does not even have value, gold does but, that is a different argument. It is really depressing to hear about all these frauds because you always have some hope that it is not happening. It is hard enough to get approved for Medicare or any type of government funding in the first place. So how can people get sucked into going to doctors that do not even do their jobs and just get money that does not belong to them? The patients are partially to blame because the doctor's office is supposed to send out a bill to the Medicaid office which is then paid and then the copy is sent to the patient. Does it not seem odd to the patient to be getting so many notifications from their health care provider when they barely even go to the doctor to begin with?
    And is nobody looking at what these doctors are billing? Like who lets 10 hemorrhoid surgeries slide? By the third one there should have been a serious red flag for the Medicaid office to take notice and investigate. They could have at least notified the patient and asked about the charges or the doctor. You do not need a medical degree to know that someone should probably not be getting so many hemorrhoid surgeries. It is a shame for everyone involved. Even the doctor's employees may very well be affected by this and find it difficult to find work after their boss is sentenced to jail time for fraud. The doctor, I would hope, will never practice medicine again. Now all those years in Medical school down the drain. Time is money and he just lost a whole lot of time and all that money. Shame, shame.

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  5. This topic has been the best so far...

    Life as we know it is all about the MONEY… Who cares how you get it as long as you have it. Yet, it’s insane for me to think that it has come down to doctors the people who are suppose to help you when in need. To have completely turned there focus of the health of people and made it all about one thing and one thing only. Those people should be ashamed of themselves and the fact that the Dr. Boris Sachakov had the nerve to say he performed 10 of the same surgery on the same person sounds insane for anyone to believe. Yet I also believe that our government should look more into what these doctors are asking for. They should have noticed it was the same person with the same procedure being done more than 5 times.

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  6. This post is somewhat similar to the previous one. What makes people do this thing is the love of money. These nurses and doctors get enough money to live well, yet they want much more. They may think of it as a way to get a little more convincing themselves that they will never get caught. Money has taken over their lives in such a way that they don't even notice that their actions are stupid. Since we use money for everything, Money has such a great value and everyone wants to have it. It’s amazing how time changes and value of certain things changes as well. Back then, people would trade all kinds of goods and money wasn't a problem simply because it didn't exist. If someone would have found a dollar on the floor, they might have wiped their butt with it because they thought it was paper. Now, if you do that it is a sin. These doctors don't care who they hurt because their greed has grown excessively. We are raised in a society that needs money to survive and live well. The only thing money can't buy is your soul, but people don't care about that all they want is material things. Now individuals go to school for 8 or 12 years simply to live well and not for the love of others and to help make a difference in the world.

    Quendra Gomez

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  7. It’s disgusting to know that people around are taking advantage of a program that was intended for families of low income to receive health care here in the United States. Now that there is less and less jobs and more mouths to feed, people are resorting to “easy money”. The people we might see as health care providers might be just scamming us for billions of dollars. Doctors and nurses are charging unbelievable amounts to Medicaid for just seeing a patient, which is money that we tax payers pay. While judges are sending innocent teens to different centers so they can get money into there pockets. People need to know that in the long run, they will be caught. Stop using money that is intended to help needy families and/or your own guilty pleasures. Just do what is right!

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  8. With President Obama's outlook for future healthcare, situations like these have to be keep under control. There needs to be a greater outreach in overlook, where mere statements and filings can be correlated with actual results; or at the very least, to consider some kind of regulatory action.

    Of course, the easiest and most achievable way to limit the amount of loss to fraud is, sadly, to just cut funding for Medicare, and many seem to be pushing for that already.

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  9. It is incredible to see where society has done to moral judgment. Society is lead by money, who has it always wants more and who doesn’t wants it so much that does anything to have at least enough to make a good or decent living. This explains the case of the fraud, this companies and offices are looking forward to taking advantage of the government as much as they cant, but what they don’t realize is that they are paying some of the portion of money that they scam and aside from that they are not risking everything but making it worse for everyone including themselves. It always amazes me how ignorant and blinded people can become for a piece of paper. In fact it always surprises me how low a person can go to get a portion of some amount of money. Money has managed to drown grade everyone’s self and moral standards.
    Trying to fool the government is a hard task, yet I have always said if you going to do something bad just do it right. Unlike doctor Brooklyn who decides to charge Medicaid for hemorrhoids removal, how many people actually get their hemorrhoids removed? In my opinion people that are committing fraud are harming the people that actually do need the Medicaid assistance. For instance my family need for Medicare yet since they have cut back on it only two members are full covered by Medicaid while the rest needs to maintain their health as best as they can because god forbid something does happen then you will be forced to go to the hospital and pay for treatment without being able to afford insurance. It is just like selling medication as drugs!
    Society is over the role play and now it’s all about the money. There are no doctors but “professionals” who will do anything for you to come back more than once so they can charge more to your insurance. That’s only if you want good service because you could find a quack anywhere that like the 100 people that have been arrested for fraud will find a way to do the same. Society seems to be lacking so much respect towards itself. Yet they are trusting too much or maybe the wrong people, or is it that everyone is losing their interest in their jobs, and they are looking for an easy way out? Can money really buy everything including self respect or do people chose to ignore that important fact and go for their survival instincts without thinking about consequences?

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  10. Sure, it seems simple: “get rich quick” schemes do not work out, as evidenced by the large number of failed attempts; these efforts to plunder inevitably lead to a shameful conclusion. So how can people actually become convinced, against common-sense reasoning, that they will succeed? Greed jumps to mind—the mere thought of those millions gained with minimum effort (only the cost of moral-rightness, dignity, et cetera are included) must bring torrents of salivation to the avaricious at heart. However, a large cause for throwing caution to the wind is probably misperceived exceptionality. At some point ego kicks in, convincing someone that he or she is different from everyone else who has ever tried to cheat the system—they are smart enough and clever enough to get away with it. Another question that comes to mind is: why not at least stop early and keep whatever profits have been gained—why continue? This is probably due to a feedback loop: the longer said corrupted person goes with impunity, the greater his belief that he shall never be caught.

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  11. I am not surprised by the actions of these people described in this article. But I am disgusted and bothered by the ways of our world. Are these the doctors, physical therapists, and nurses that will be taking care for our children in the future? There’s got to be a stop to these corrupt and fraudulent actions being taking on by the “White collar Professionals.” What doctor would be stupid enough to charge so much money for a service he has not provided? Ten procedures were claimed to have been performed and there were no records of even one? As if this white collard criminal couldn’t be any stupider. What really gets me upset is the fact that we the tax payers are basically paying for these people to steal our hard earned tax money. For some of us, it’s bad enough that we even have to pay these taxes, let alone when someone comes and takes your money fraudulently. Especially if you know that your tax money is helping the needy.

    by Joel Rodriguez

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  12. Medicare is health care for the aged; a federally administered system of health insurance available to persons aged 65 and over. It’s very beneficial for the senior citizen. There are some thefts who are violating the law by making money on people. More than 700 of them have been arrested. I believe those theft should be arrested because it’s a violation of the law and you don’t care about people. I believe those type of action are types of crimes. You cannot just charged people for something they have never done. They are charging people with medical bill. Federal authorities charged more than 100 doctors, nurses and physical therapists in nine cities with Medicare fraud Thursday, part of a massive nationwide bust that snared more suspects than any other in history. Based on the article, I was amazed by the statistics. They are more than 100 doctors, nurses, and physical therapist who are been arrested for fraud. I was very shocked.

    By Reginald Belizaire

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  13. Medicare fraud is a multi-billion-dollar per year crime, and it has been going on almost as long as Medicare has been in existence. Medicare fraud is not the property of or the fault of any Republican or Democrat administration. it exists because of one motivation: GREED. Unfortunately, this happens everywhere and countless times, but it is sad that the people who we call out for "help" would be the ones behind this fraud. Surprising to say money goes along way and some people would give anything to have it. I sure hope that if and when these "professionals" are found guilty they have some money left to reimburse for care they never gave. For decades these Medicare fraud companies have been able to setup shop virtually unchallenged by anyone. And then people wonder why the cost of healthcare has gone so high, because massive amounts of money are being outright stolen from these valuable programs.



    Nataly Garcia

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  14. I believe what makes these people stupid enough to do these things without even realizing that they are putting their illegal actions out in the obvious is security. Let me explain this concept. It happens mostly in children; they want to do something, for whatever reason, even though they know it’s wrong and they are not allowed to do it. So, they take precaution, do it, and wait to see what the consequences are. If they are not caught, they are most likely to do it again; and if it continuous to go unnoticed for some period of time then they are bound to start feeling a sense of security, that if they haven’t been caught by now then why should they even ever get caught. This security makes them become careless and that’s why they get caught. The same thing here; these people have been doing these kinds of things for years that by now they are so confident that they won’t get caught so they do stupid and careless things without even realizing them. They think that if they have managed to make millions scamming people and nobody noticed it, then who is going to notice when they continue on to the billion mark. That makes them careless and oblivious to the ‘give away’ things they do, those things that betray their true actions.

    By Rosana Quintana

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  15. These people are selfish. They have a high pay job and they want to cheat the system to gain more money. I laugh to the fact that Dr. Boris Sachakov gets caught by claiming that he performed 10 hemorrhoid removals on one patient. What kind of moron would say such a thing knowing that it’s not even possible, it’s like going to the police officer and telling him he just murder somebody on 36 ST. I guess people are willing to lose everything just to have money. I still think it was wrong because how can we help people with low incomes when people like this are willing to cheat the system.

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  16. Doctors and medical staff that perform fraud consist of false billing, over billing patient and charging for services not performed. Professionals that act upon deceitful actions are placed in a category where they value money and wealth over human’s welfare. Money is a very powerful weapon. Many people in our society prefer to sacrifice all they have worked for in order to make extra money. It sad to say, but good deeds must have beneficial arrangements. Doctors, nurses and physical therapists that participated in these fraud actions should lose their rights in practicing medical assisted. They deserve to be penalties and sent to jail for thinking of themselves and being selfish. Medical staffs usually study their profession from 4-10 years. Their duty is to help the sick and deliver from pain. After God, most people trust his or her doctor’s diagnosis. How can one attempt to have trust in a doctor when there is so much greed in the world?

    By:Rebecca Joseph

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  17. There is a French proverb that illustrates these situations: “L’occasion fait le larron”, one could translate it by “ Opportunity makes the thief”. In other words the system’s imperfections create favorable circumstances for fraud. Without controls there will be abuse. In answer to your question regarding the stupidity of Dr. Sachakov, Professor, I believe that either he has gotten away with it before or many others must have gotten away with this type of scam in order for Doctors or Judges (as in our previous article) to have the illusion that, they just might, never be exposed. Greed has made them so blind that thousands are not enough, when they see it working and the authorities not reacting for a long period of time, they get carried away and make mistakes like the ten hemorrhoid removals on just one patient. However, I can just imagine the number of professionals that have a routine and that become less eager, this is just the tip of the iceberg. As usual, those that are less privileged will be penalized if we do not succeed in stopping the excess of expenses in Medicare. I hope that this time the criminals will not be able to pay off authorities or the people in charge or investigating these practices.

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  18. When gruesome things like this happens, it only leaves you to thing what other systems out there are poorly constructed and developed. However, we can't always blame the government for horrific crimes like those , but it is up to all of us in society to be as candid at all times as professionals. It seems like we have forgotten about our moral standards, and to make money illegally is more as an important aspect in our lives. Those people are self-centered, and will do anything to beat the system to make numerous amount of money. It is obvious enough that something like this wouldn't have lasted for too long without someone finding out. It is annoying to see that people are talking advantage of the program for families with low income earning. We ask time and time again why is the Health Care system failing, and this is a clear example to what the problem is. Those people should all held accountable, and pay for what they have done.

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  19. It’s hard to believe that people can be this evil and greedy. The average American struggles day to day to make ends meet. And for someone to take advantage of these people who are going to them for help is pure evil. These people who can’t afford to pay for their health themselves end up getting the bad end of the deal. The healthcare system in this country should be changed and made better so it helps everyone and so nobody gets these outrageous bills for procedures they didn’t even have done. It’s pretty hard to fool the government but these people weren’t even smart in the way they came about it. I don’t agree with what these doctors are doing but they should at least try harder to cover it up. It’s not like the people receiving these bills are dumb and won’t notice. People become doctors to help, they shouldn’t take advantage of people specially when someone’s health is at risk.

    -Nicole Encalada

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  20. Yet again money has corrupted the mind of man. These people only see straight forward as they cross this high-risk road. Not to even give a glimpse to the possible repercussions other their highly intolerable actions. Its a massive shame to see these people waste their lives over such a thing as fraud. I wonder if the money will be returned. If it will be, then it could really help Obama's plans enough to make more of an impact towards Health Care.
    Fraud seems to be greed's ugly cousin that these people happen to take a liking to. I doubt this will be a proud Guinness World Record for the most suspects in history. And by this event I hope it deters others in the practice to repeat these individuals actions because looks like you can't beat the system for too long, justice will find those who disrupt it. With out justice these very people, and many others alike, with destroy the foundation of our welfare and government.

    Andrae Williams

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  21. This just is just another example of what the current public is now capable of doing in this day and age, despite the economy crisis in 2009. We shouldn't have to gamble with our health, especially with our own money, or with the states money. When did morality among Americans go out the window? This doctor probably did not anticipate getting caught, since he justified his $6.5 million surgery, on hemorrhoids of all, which could have been covered for free in some medical plans. Its obvious that then that this string of crimes concerning medical expenses and healthcare, are only going to get worse.Even if Obama's plan goes into effect, we will still face several crimes related to this, it won't end in the arrest of the fraudulent doctor. I get the feeling that these kind of crimes, will happen even more in future years to come.

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  22. Money is the route to all evil. I have learned that money talks and now and days doctors do not live us to the oath they take. They are no longer promoting health, it is all about the money. I have worked in a doctor's office and seen it first hand. The doctos's claim to listen to the patient, but in all honesty they really aren't.
    Doctors are using their power for personal gain. They are taught ethics throughout their years of schooling and still do not possess it. They make great money, but it's still not enough. Our government shows it really does not care about us, so many other powerful figures are following. It's sad that this is happening. This is country is so corrupted and greedy.
    People beleive in their doctors and this is what is going on. I am amazed every time I hear about another doctor has misused their control. Now when I am sick I just stay sick. I pay for insurance but do not use it because I really do not believe the doctors really listen. They are so quick to throw you on medication instead of finding of means. Medicine is not the answer to everything.
    The system really need to start looking at more doctors, past and present and catch them all that is harming people. And the money they have gained should be used towards healthcare for those that cannot afford it.

    Diadra Mosley

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  23. Money is the route to all evil. I have learned that money talks and now and days doctors do not live us to the oath they take. They are no longer promoting health, it is all about the money. I have worked in a doctor's office and seen it first hand. The doctos's claim to listen to the patient, but in all honesty they really aren't.
    Doctors are using their power for personal gain. They are taught ethics throughout their years of schooling and still do not possess it. They make great money, but it's still not enough. Our government shows it really does not care about us, so many other powerful figures are following. It's sad that this is happening. This is country is so corrupted and greedy.
    People beleive in their doctors and this is what is going on. I am amazed every time I hear about another doctor has misused their control. Now when I am sick I just stay sick. I pay for insurance but do not use it because I really do not believe the doctors really listen. They are so quick to throw you on medication instead of finding of means. Medicine is not the answer to everything.
    The system really need to start looking at more doctors, past and present and catch them all that is harming people. And the money they have gained should be used towards healthcare for those that cannot afford it.

    Diadra

    ReplyDelete