| Author | Message | ||
| Jwd Registered user Username: Jwd Post Number: 49 Registered: 4-2005 |
Anyone know more about this? News Released: July 03, 2005 TMA INTERNATIONAL TRUSTS GOES AFTER SEVENTH-day ADVENTIST CHURCH (PRLEAP.COM) The Adventist Health System [East & West], owned and controlled by the Seventh-day Adventist Church (AH), is potentially facing bankruptcy for the role of its Hospitals in the largest Medicaid / Medicare Fraud Case in History. Adventist Health Hospitals from Hawaii to Florida have been participating in massive Federal Funding Fraud involving the States they operate in and the fraud amounts to Hundreds of Billions of Dollars. The criminal enterprise has two levels, one that goes back to 1974, and, a second one that goes back to 1999. TMA International Trusts (TMAIT) has the evidence as the federal legal standing to recover the funds. The two fraudulent schemes together create for AH joint & several, statutory liability [excluding penalties & fines] that exceeds Two Trillion Dollars ($2,000,000,000,000.00) in the States where they operate Hospitals. Due to the fact that the States have legal immunity under the Federal Recovery Statutes, AH will certainly not be able to meet its portion of the liability if sued, which can get all the way to the Church and Church assets. TMAIT attempted to speak with Church leader Jan Paulsen but he did not return any calls. It appears that AH feels they are above the law. They will soon find out that even The Church is not above the law when it comes to Federal Funding Fraud. On top of the Fraud associated with Medicaid & Medicare the AH Hospitals have been committing thousands of federal felonies associated with violating ěPatient Rights.î TMAIT is the ěPrivate Attorney Generalî or ěRelatorî in charge of recovery and they hate to put a Church into bankruptcy, however, ěthis is a serious fraud and cannot be tolerated,î said a TMAIT spokesperson. TMAIT regrets the situation as it relates to Church Members as they have nothing to do with the problem. It is a management problem that stems from reckless and negligent conduct on the part of Hospital Management. TMAIT Public Affairs Read more news from TMA International Trusts American Hospital Association Involved In Criminal Federal Funding Fraud Catholic Sisters in Hawaii and Syracuse New York mixed up in Federal Funding Fraud. HOSPITAL INDUSTRY FACING MASSIVE MEDICAID LIABILITY AFFILIATED COMPUTER SERVICES, INC. (ACS) EXECUTIVES AND LAWYERS ARE COVERING UP MASSIVE CRIMINAL MEDICAID FRAUD DISCOVERED BY TMA INTERNATIONAL TRUSTS DADE COUNTY HEALTH SYSTEM INVOLVED IN MEDICAID FRAUD AMERIGROUP CORPORATION CAUGHT PARTICIAPTING IN MEDICAID FRAUD THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES (HHS) and the CENTER FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES (CMS) CAUGHT COVERING UP MASSIVE MEDICAID FRAUD THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES NEVADA GOVERNOR, KENNY C. GUINN, MIXED UP IN SERIOUS MEDICAID FRAUD WITHIN HIS CABINET The Division of Health Care Financing and Policy (NV Medicaid) TMA INTERNATIONAL TRUSTS TARGETS METHODIST HOSPITALS IN TEXAS FOR MASSIVE MEDICAID FRAUD LITIGATION TMA INTERNATIONAL TRUSTS HAS DISCOVERED THAT COLORADOíS MEDICAID PROGRAM, AND CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM, HAVE BEEN DEFRAUDING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR 29 YEARS. Ş Printer Friendly Version CONTACT INFORMATION Bill Lovern TMA International Trusts Email TMA International Trusts 206-350-1862 About This Release If you have any questions regarding information in these press releases please contact the organization listed in the press release. Issuers of press releases and not PR Leap are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content. ~ Jess ~ | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 2281 Registered: 12-2003  |
No, Jess, I don't know any more about this. It's very interesting, though...! How ironic; the right arm of the message puts the whole message in jeopardy! Colleen | ||
| Loneviking Registered user Username: Loneviking Post Number: 350 Registered: 7-2000 |
Jess, here is the link to the TMAIT web site: http://www.tmaittma.com/index.html Basically, these guys are legal sharks. There are Federal statutes that authorize what amount to private attorney general actions. One of the best known of these is the Rackateer Influenced Corrupt Organization act---aka 'RICO'. And it looks like they have set their sites on the SDA church and are going after them under the RICO statutes. Under RICO, they can sue for treble (3x) damages along with obtaining injunctions. The SDA church may be in some real trouble this time. Because it can take some time to file the complaints and get the legal machinery working, you probably won't hear much else for at least six months. | ||
| Chris Registered user Username: Chris Post Number: 886 Registered: 7-2003  |
Just a word of caution from someone in the Healthcare industry who sits on the Corporate Compliance Committee: I wouldn't take this too seriously until either CMS or the OIG (or one of their contractors) get involved. Some of these legal firms that specialize in class action suites engage in speculative cage rattling and do press releases in the hopes of shaking something out of the trees (to mix metaphors). It seems to me that it borders on liable unless they've had extensive access to the hospital system's accounting and clinical records (which I just about guarantee they have not due to Federal HIPAA regulations). I don't see a thing in the press release about the OIG going after AH so I seriously doubt if they need to worry yet. Of course if there is something there, this class action firm may turn it up and it could turn into something real. But for now I would sit back and watch and NOT engage in any specualtion about the propriety of the AH system. Chris | ||
| Loneviking Registered user Username: Loneviking Post Number: 351 Registered: 7-2000 |
You're right about this being rather speculative, for now. There will have to be quite a bit of discovery done. I don't think HIPAA is going to save them. Under HIPAA you can have disclosures to companies/organizations that you do business with or have a reason to disclose to them---you just have to notify patients that you're doing it. From my experience running a couple of doctors offices, most patients don't even read the privacy information, they just sign it. Also, HIPAA is only three years old---under RICO you can go back much farther to establish a pattern that is actionable. I'd be willing to bet that GC officials that sit on the hospital boards have seen the accounting records. Still, time will tell what the real story is. I'm just surprised that one of these outfits hasn't gone after AHS before now...... | ||
| Dt Registered user Username: Dt Post Number: 56 Registered: 4-2005 |
The dollar amount alone tells me that this is probably just a bunch of legal sharks trying to shake down some hospitals. $2 Trillion???? That is the US Gov't. budget for a year. | ||
| Jwd Registered user Username: Jwd Post Number: 50 Registered: 4-2005 |
The figure of $2 Trillion gave me pause as well. If any portion proves true and fact, I prophesy that there will be a big G.C. promotion, given a pet promotion title, special literature and then the launch; which will mean every Adventist pulpit in the land will be preaching series on tithe and sacrificial giving! :c) Jess | ||
| Chris Registered user Username: Chris Post Number: 887 Registered: 7-2003 |
Here's how the shake-down works. The legal firm tries to scare or pressure the hospital into doing an extensive audit. Due to the ridiculously complicated regulations for Medicare and Medicaid (even the Fiscal Intermediaries contracted to adminster them don't really know or understand all the regs.) any hospital that searches hard enough will find some non-compliance in some area. Any honest hospital will then self-report to the OIG. The legal firm then attempts to claim a percent of any pay-back based on whistle blower laws. I don't have any facts, but if I had to bet I would put my money on this being a fishing expedition on the part of a sleazy law firm. Chris | ||
| Loneviking Registered user Username: Loneviking Post Number: 352 Registered: 7-2000 |
Chris, your mention of the complicated regs brings to mind a couple of trips to Cal Osha trying to figure out how to come into compliance with a couple of items. The folks there were literally fishing through cardboard boxes trying to find the relevent regs and figure out what to do! | ||
| Melissa Registered user Username: Melissa Post Number: 961 Registered: 7-2003  |
Well, it's fascinating to me because I work for ACS...(mentioned in the original post). We are a contracting company that provides a variety of services, HR, payroll, IT...etc. We have incredible "ethics" training and guidelines. I can't imagine in any way there being massive coverup on "our" end as that is certainly against all rhetoric we ever hear in our required annual ethics training. We even have an office of ethics, and a corporate officer for ethics where complaints can be filed anonymously. I guess anything is possible, but that would surprise me.... | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 430 Registered: 4-2000  |
Florida Hospital, the largest SDA hospital (their flag ship), recently had to pay nearly 20 million dollars in fines due to fraudulent irregularities. Dennis Fischer | ||
| Jan Registered user Username: Jan Post Number: 37 Registered: 1-2005 |
I have several friends in the FH system who are nurses and while they are not allowed to work one minute over time still the top CEO makes over $2,000,000 a year. There were some protests at the GC regarding this issue. | ||
| Nancy Registered user Username: Nancy Post Number: 21 Registered: 6-2004 |
My husband receives newsletters from www.InsuranceBroadcasting.com being he's in the insurance business and he forwarded this on to me. Thought everyone might find this interesting. I came on to reveal this and low and behold, another similar story. UM!! Oh by the way, aren't they the ones that have "the health message as well as "THE MESSAGE?" I would like to send this to every Adventist I know but they would have some lame come back, b/c they're perfect---remember!!! This is so bad!!!! 6. ADVENTIST CHURCH LEADER APOLOGIZES TO UNINSURED VICTIM FOR MISTREATMENT Denial of Services, Price Gouging of the Uninsured, Excessive Executive Compensation by Adventist Hospitals Concern Adventists Attending Church's General Session in St. Louis ST. LOUIS, June 30 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2001, Larry Dodds, Senior Vice President of Adventist Health System West earned over $540,00 in total compensation from the not-for-profit hospital chain. Two years later, his total compensation climbed to a whopping $2.1 million according to tax forms filed with the IRS. With hard facts like these and over 25,000 flyers being distributed to attendees of the Seventh Day Adventist General Session highlighting the "shameful and immoral" practices of hospitals that invoke the Adventist name, Consejo de Latinos Unidos, a national advocacy group that educates and assists Hispanics and the uninsured, is making inroads with leaders and members of the Adventist church. "We believe there are many Adventists who do not know what is going on at these so-called Adventist hospitals," said K.B. Forbes, Executive Director of the Consejo. Charging the uninsured four or five times more is immoral and contradicts the healing mission of Christ and the sincere compassion that Adventists advocate." Yesterday, Pastor Orville Parchment, the second highest-ranking official at the church met with the Consejo and Judith Montilla Vega, a practicing Adventist and mother of six-year-old Rodney Vega, for over 40 minutes. Last year, Rodney Vega was allegedly denied life-saving services at Florida Hospital, an Adventist hospital in Orlando. In May of 2005, after meeting with congressional staffers in Washington, the Vega family was "bribed" with offers of free care and a free ocean cruise by Florida Hospital. Parchment apologized to Vega for the mistreatment her family received. At a news conference today, Forbes outlined how the educational effort on price gouging in St. Louis was the first step in a new campaign to put pressure on Church leaders to reign in hospitals that use the "name of God and the holiness of the Church while sticking it to the uninsured and turning their executives into multimillionaires." Forbes was joined by Archie Lamb, a nationally recognized health care trial attorney who represents uninsured families. Lamb said, "Uninsured working families are at the mercy of collectors. Adventist leaders should make sure their hospitals do not engage in unsavory practices." The Adventist hospitals are independent corporations and operate separately from the church. Last week, Parchment informed the Consejo that the church expects "transparency and impeccable" behavior from the hospitals. Adventist hospitals in Colorado and Florida have been under fire by the Consejo for price gouging the uninsured | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 1723 Registered: 3-2004  |
Nancy, Thanks for the info. God still reigns supreme and people who hurt/misuse others will have to answer to God. Diana | ||
| Catalyst Registered user Username: Catalyst Post Number: 6 Registered: 6-2005 |
http://www.wherethemoneygoes.com VERY insteresting read - scroll down... | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 2299 Registered: 12-2003 |
Nancy, thanks for sharing that story. Somehow these kinds of events keep happening. Lack of a bedrock of integrity corrupts the whole superstructure. As Diana says, God reigns supreme. He is both merciful and just. Colleen | ||
| 91steps Registered user Username: 91steps Post Number: 1 Registered: 8-2005 |
I still work at the General Conference, and had to threaten to sick the State Insurance commission on ARM two year ago. They were not paying my bills, and I had bill collectors hounding me, and NO ONE in ARM seemed to care, that is until made my threats. Their health care system is a sham!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | ||
| Melissa Registered user Username: Melissa Post Number: 998 Registered: 7-2003 |
Welcome 91Steps. | ||
| Dd Registered user Username: Dd Post Number: 519 Registered: 7-2004 |
Hello Steps, Welcome. I am sure there is a story about your user name. Would love to hear more... | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 648 Registered: 3-2005 |
Welcome 91 steps. Thanks for expressing yourself so well about the sham of the health care system. Maybe your user name has to do with all the steps needed to reach Christ within the SDA system. Thanks for joining us. Stan | ||
| Heretic Registered user Username: Heretic Post Number: 166 Registered: 2-2005 |
Welcome to the forum, 91steps. Glad you're here! Heretic | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 2407 Registered: 12-2003 |
Welcome, Steps! We're looking forward to hearing your story and to getting to know you. We're glad you're here. Colleen | ||
| Chris Registered user Username: Chris Post Number: 980 Registered: 7-2003 |
Welcome 91steps. I would love to hear more of your story and about your screen name. Chris Lee Lincoln, NE | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 1785 Registered: 3-2004 |
Welcome 91steps to FAF. I look forward to hearing your story. Are you still SDA or are you processing out??? God is so awesome. Diana | ||
| 91steps Registered user Username: 91steps Post Number: 3 Registered: 8-2005 |
The steps was a typo, but I decided to keep it. I am still employed at the GC, for some reason the Lord must want me there, but I am not attending an Adventist Church anymore. The stories I could tell if I were no longer employed at the GC would curl your hair!!!! Anyhow, am glad I found this site. | ||
| Belvalew Registered user Username: Belvalew Post Number: 619 Registered: 7-2004 |
In my early 20's I applied to work in the conference office as a secretary. I did not get the job, and the former local pastor who had sponsored me for the position talked to my father and he told him (because he had recently been moved to the position of conference evangelist) that it probably would have been difficult for me to deal with because I was so trusting, and willing to believe, and that there are things that occurred in conference offices that simply do not feel heaven inspired. I'm not willing to wish that you loose your position at the GC, but I'd really like to hear some of those stories one of these days. Must be the gossip in me that is so curious. | ||
| Seekr777 Registered user Username: Seekr777 Post Number: 239 Registered: 1-2003  |
mmmmmmm 91 steps, maybe it's 91 steps to the GC presidents office and the seat of "power".  Sorry couldn't resist and that will someday get me in trouble. Richard | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 1809 Registered: 3-2004 |
91steps, I have to admit, I am very curious about the stories that would curl my hair. That would make it VERY CURLY. I am human, I have to admit. Diana |
