Millions in Medicaid Fraud?
Palm Beach Post ran an interesting article about possible Medicaid Fraud. As taxpayers, we should all be outraged when nursing homes take money for patient care and use it for other reasons such as perks, bonuses, and profit. Medicaid auditors have disallowed more than a half-million dollars in "operating costs" at a Pahokee nursing home. The audit only looked at a limited period, 2003-2004, and concluded nearly $672,000 in operating expenses did not merit reimbursement by the government. Hopefully, they will audit additional years to find the millions taken in Mediciad funds. Government money provides most of the revenue at the 120-bed nursing home, where the annual operating budget runs between $5 million and $10 million.
Among the red flags: Billing the government for automobile expenses "not supported as business-related" at Glades Health Care Center. The Post examined spending on hot tubs, Cadillacs, BMWs and other luxury cars, along with hefty pay for executives and their family members at Glades Health Care Center and related organizations over several years.
A spokeswoman for the state's Agency for Health Care Administration said she was not aware of other audits currently under way against the chain of nursing homes, though she could not rule out further inquiries. Why aren't they doing audits for other years?
