US Military Retirees in the Philippines Victims of Healthcare Fraud

Tricare/CHAMPUS Fraud Update 07:

The U.S. military's health insurance program has been swindled out of more than $100 million over the past decade in the Philippines, where doctors, hospitals and clinics have conspired with American veterans to submit bogus claims, according to prosecutors and court records. Seventeen people have been convicted so far — including at least a dozen U.S. military retirees — in a little-noticed investigation that has been handled by federal prosecutors out of Wisconsin because Madison-based WPS Health Insurance holds the contract to process many of the claims. It has not been accused of any wrongdoing. At the center of the case is Tricare, a Pentagon-run program that insures 9.2 million current and former service members and dependents worldwide. The United States closed its military bases in the Philippines in 1992 and withdrew its active-duty forces, but thousands of retirees remained. Some saw an opportunity to pry easy cash from Tricare. Health care providers in the Philippines filed claims for medical services never delivered, inflated claims by as much as 2,000% and shared kickbacks with retirees who played along, court records reviewed by The Associated Press show. "There just seemed to be so many possibilities for abuse of the system, and there were so few controls in terms of monitoring," said former U.S. Attorney Peg Lautenschlager, who oversaw prosecutions in the late 1990s.

Pentagon auditors say Tricare moved slowly to uncover and stop the fraud. And a FEB 08 audit warned that the program is still vulnerable to rip-offs because of lax controls and that similar fraud schemes are starting to emerge in Latin America. News of the scope of the fraud comes as the Pentagon seeks to raise fees for Tricare's beneficiaries — fourfold, in some cases. The proposed increases have outraged groups representing servicemen and have been blocked by Congress. Tricare paid $210.9 million in overseas claims in 2006, the latest year for which figures were available. At the height of the fraud in 2003, Pentagon officials say, two-thirds of the $61.8 million paid to Philippine providers — about $40 million — was fraudulent. The fraud in the Philippines was so extensive that the number of claims filed there skyrocketed nearly 2,000% between 1998 and 2003 even as beneficiaries there — about 9,000 mostly retired military members and dependents — remained constant. "I know this is illegal and wrong to submit fraudulent claims to get money, but I did it for fun," U.S. Navy retiree Romulo Estoesta told investigators. He died in 2002.

Austin Camacho, a spokesman for the Pentagon's Tricare Management Activity, which runs the program, said the fraud has been hard to prove because of language barriers, a lack of cooperation from providers and limited law enforcement resources. But he said the agency added numerous controls and is making every effort to stop fraud. In one big case, prosecutors say Health Visions Corp. — which owns hospitals and clinics in the Philippines — bilked the program out of nearly $100 million from 1998 to 2004. Its former president, Thomas Lutz, has pleaded guilty to his role in a kickback scheme and could get five years in prison. He could be sentenced in Madison as early as 2 4APR. The company has also reached a plea agreement, but it is sealed. Prosecutors say Health Visions executives instructed billers to inflate every claim by at least 233% and falsify diagnoses. Lutz refused to comment when reached by telephone in Columbia, Mo., where he is living with relatives. The company's lawyer had no comment. Pentagon officials received fraud allegations against the company in 2000 but waited until late 2005 to move to cut off payments, according to an internal audit report. The company reaped tens of millions of dollars in payments in the meantime. In a 2005 memo, William Winkenwerder, then assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, complained that his requests to send additional investigators to the Philippines were ignored.

The fraud went well beyond Health Visions. A Pentagon official warned in 2004 that the Philippine schemes were costing U.S. taxpayers $40 million a year. In all, those convicted have been ordered to pay back only about $1.8 million. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Jarosz said of the 37 people indicted, about 20 remain free, in part because requests to extradite suspects from the Philippines have rarely succeeded. Claro de Castro, chief of the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation's Interpol division, insisted Philippine authorities have cooperated with the U.S. Nevertheless, federal agents have resorted to trying to capture defendants when they step on U.S. soil. Dr. Diogenes Dionisio, who ran a clinic near Manila, was arrested earlier this year after he arrived in Guam for a vacation. He has pleaded not guilty to submitting $2 million in fraudulent claims. His lawyer, Charles Giesen, said his client was never notified he was facing indictment. "He was getting off the plane with his golf clubs and they put him in handcuffs," Giesen said. "It was a complete surprise and somewhat baffling."

[Source: Associated Press Ryan J. Foley article 23 Apr 08 +]

Preparing for Battle

Spiritual Warfare and You
by David Jeremiah

Arizona police officers were dismayed to discover that their bulletproof vests were defective. Now it's a full-blown scandal.

Christians are engaged in spiritual warfare against a powerful enemy. "You're going to face a powerful, invisible enemy every day-the Devil. …Put on your body armor and be prepared to fight him and his demonic hosts. Put on every piece of your battle dress" (Ephesians 6:10-20).

Paul lists seven pieces of equipment every Christian should wear to win this spiritual battle:

"Stand…having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always. . . ." (verses 14-18)

The Combat Harness
The Christian's combat harness is truth. Paul said, Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth.... Jesus said, "I am the...truth"(John 14:6). Satan is like a roaring lion seeking someone to destroy. He's a liar, deceiver, serpent, the accuser of the brethren. Whatever he says to us is a distortion.

The Bulletproof Vest
Our "shield of righteousness" is the Christian's bulletproof vest. Be honest, upright, authentic, and full of integrity. The little sins we tolerate represent dangerous "holes" in our bulletproof vests. You can be sure that sooner or later, Satan will aim right at that spot.

The Tactical Duty Boots
Wear the shoes of the Gospel of Peace. As the right boots protect our soles, the peace of the Gospel protects our souls. The Good News of Christ brings composure to our lives, putting hard leather between us and the jagged stones of fear and doubt.

That's why the Bible constantly tells us, "Do not fret… do not fear… do not let your hearts be troubled… do not be anxious… don't be discouraged."

The Riot Shield
Trust God and keep going when everything falls apart: ". . . above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one."

The Helmet
Wear the "helmet of salvation. Possess the mind of Christ. Think as Jesus thinks, equipping yourself with the wisdom of God.

Our battle will be won or lost in the realm of ideas. We read in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5:"the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."

Are you increasingly letting the Holy Spirit give you His wisdom as you read the Word of God and pray?

The Assault Rifle
The "sword of the Spirit" is our assault rifle. Until now, all the armor has been defensive. Now we come to our offensive weapon-the Word of God.

In Matthew 4, Jesus confronted Satan with three simple words: "It is written. . . ." And then He quoted passages from Deuteronomy to defeat Satan.

Think of areas in which you know Satan will tempt you, find some Bible verses relating to those areas, write them out on little cards, and put them where you see them often. Memorize them. Learn them by heart, and be ready to use them when the Enemy confronts you.

The Radio--Prayer
Paul says, "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints."

Praying always… all prayer… all perseverance… for all the saints. Our prayer lives should be strong, consistent, and sincere. The prayers of a righteous person are powerful and effective (James 5:16 NIV).

God intends us to be "more than conquerors," but we have to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Be dressed for battle, keep your armor on, and when it's all over but the shouting, you'll still be on your feet.

This article was excerpted from Turning Points, Dr. David Jeremiah's devotional magazine. Call Turning Point at 1-800-947-1993 for your complimentary copy of Turning Points.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

The Battle is Won....

The Battle is Won through Forgiveness, Restoration
By Sinclair Ferguson
by Alliance Council Member

How successfully do you handle the sins of others? Observation suggests that the Christian family too often reacts with either hot indignation or cold indifference, without a proper sense of biblical responsibility.

Sometimes we seem as bad at handling others' failures as we are at overcoming our own. No doubt these two things are related. Yet, given the nature of the gospel, would we not expect that the church should be vastly different from the world on this point?

Scripture gives several principles which should govern our response to the sins of others.

1. Grief. A life has been marred. Christ's name has been shamed. Perhaps others' lives have been invaded by the consequences of sin. Things can never be quite the same again. Hearts will have been hardened, making repentance the more difficult. Knowing this, we will weep with those who weep.

2. Realism. Conversion does not deliver the saints from the presence of sin. We may have died to sin, but sin has not yet died out in us. The regenerate man is only in the process of being healed. Sin dwells in him still, and is deceitful still.

This does not excuse the believer's sin, but it underlines that it is possible for Christians still to sin. Scripture encourages us that there will be no fatalities, but warns us that we can still be critically wounded.

The strong-stomached authors of the Westminster Confession caught this balance when they wrote that "sanctification is throughout in the whole man; yet imperfect in this life, there abiding still some remnants of corruption in every part, whence ariseth a continual and irreconcilable war . . . In which war, although the remaining corruption, for a time, may much prevail; yet, through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part doth overcome . . ." (XIV,ii,iii)

Such knowledge does not protect us from grief over others' sins, but it does help us to see that a single wound is not the end of the war, and thus preserves us from despair of ourselves or others.

3. Self-examination. We too are frail, we too may fall. Our sins may not have produced the same public consequences as those of our brethren, but may be no less horrible. We may have been spared the combination of sinful desire, the pressure of temptation, and the opportunity to act that has brought another to fall. Only those who know that they too are "subject to weakness" will be "able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray" (Heb.5:2).

4. Mutual confession. We are to confess our sins to each other, and to pray for one another (Jas.5:16). Why? Because mutual confession breaks the grip of Satan over the guilty heart.

Satan's paralyzing stranglehold depends on our acceptance of his winsome lies:1) No other Christian could have sinned as you did; 2) No other Christian will accept you and love you now, so you must disguise your sin by any means you can. But in mutual confession we discover and overcome his lies, and break the blackmailing grip that Satan has gained over us. It brings us back into the fellowship from which we have withdrawn out of guilt and a fear of discovery.

5. Forgiveness and reconciliation. Those whom Christ welcomes we must welcome. He grants grace and forgiveness in order that there may be amendment of life. We dare not reverse that gospel pattern by demanding rigorous rehabilitation before we extend forgiveness and reconciliation.

6. New discipline. Brothers and sisters who sin are to be restored gently (Gal.6:1). There is a twofold emphasis here, on discipline and grace. Those who have failed need to drink long and deeply from the fountain of grace, learning again and again that we are not justified by our sanctification but by God's grace. They will need to be protected from Satan’s efforts to overwhelm and cripple them with guilt, or to drive them to a sense of despair.

Moreover, they have sinned, as we ourselves have, and together we must help them to remodel and rebuild their Christian lives and testimony. The foundations must be strengthened, the ruins must be reconstructed.

It appears from our Lord's teaching that all this may normally be accomplished informally by fellow Christians, long before it becomes necessary for formal discipline to be inaugurated. Such discipline is for the intractable only (Matt. 18:15-17).

We must never lose sight of the fact that the New Testament church contained one who, after his regeneration, denied Christ with blasphemies. Christ prays for those whom Satan seeks to sift like wheat. He loves them still.

Who knows to what usefulness a brother or sister may be restored by those who have learned how to handle the sins of others as well as their own?

This article was previously published in Eternity Magazine.

Monday, February 11, 2008

The Best Coleslaw I Ever Ate

I have had this document even before I retired in 2000. I suppose it was one of my favorite emails that I received through one of the barbecue sites. Made it a number of times and the title bears it out. It is still the best coleslaw I ever ate.

jojo

What’s the use of going to all the effort to smoke a brisket, or ribs, or anything else for that matter, if you don’t have all the fixings to go with it. Well last summer a bunch of us got together on the 4th of July to smoke meat, pop firecrackers, and see who could tell the biggest lie. And somebody’s little lady brought some coleslaw fit for a king. Before I could get my wits about me, the little shindig was over and everybody had gone home till next time. I never did find out who made the coleslaw that day, but just like the Lone Ranger leaving behind a silver bullet, the little lady that made the coleslaw that day left behind a hand written recipe on my kitchen counter. To this day no one knows who it was and no one recognizes the handwriting, but we’ve enjoyed her coleslaw several times. So ma’am, if you’re out there somewhere reading this, then all I can say is THANKS for one heck of a coleslaw recipe.

Ingredients

1 large head of green cabbage, cored and shredded
3 medium sized carrots, peeled and grated
1 cup finely diced green bell pepper
A couple of heaping tablespoons of finely grated onion
2 cups mayonnaise

3/4cup sugar
1/4cup apple cider vinegar
1/4cup Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon celery seeds
1 teaspoon salt
dash of white pepper

In a large bowl mix cabbage, carrots, green pepper, and onion together and set aside. In another bowl mix everything else and pour into first bowl tossing and mixing well. Cover and store in icebox about 4 or 5 hours. Stir again before serving.

The Character Crisis by John Mac Arthur

Character. It has an old-fashioned sound to it, like a faded relic of the Victorian era. We live in a materialistic culture where prestige, prosperity, and popularity are valued more than genuine integrity. In fact personal character hardly seems to matter very much at all nowadays-at least in the realms of mass media, entertainment, politics, and pop culture.

Only a few select moral qualities are still prized by society at large. They are chiefly liberal community values such as diversity, tolerance, and broad-mindedness. Sometimes they are even called virtues. But when traits like those are blended with hypocrisy or employed to justify some other iniquity, they become mere caricatures of authentic virtue.

Meanwhile, genuine individual virtue-the stuff of which true, timeless, praiseworthy character is made-has been formally relegated to the sphere of "personal" things best not talked about openly. These days, even an elected national leader's personal character is supposed to be treated as a wholly private matter.

As a result, our society's most prominent celebrities include countless people who actually are known best for gigantic character flaws. Notice, for example, the people who usually grace the covers of celebrity magazines. Very few are decent role models. Often they are actually people who exemplify the worst kinds of character traits. No morally sane, thinking parents would ever hope for their own children to emulate the lifestyles or embrace the values of most of our society's best-known figures. Big personalities are highly revered anyway, because celebrity itself counts more than character in a society without any moral anchor.

In fact, over the past few decades so many famous people in our society have been charged with serious crimes that a cable television series is devoted exclusively to covering stories about the legal problems of some of our culture's favorite figures. Still, both the public and the media continue to confer celebrity status on more and more bizarre characters.

How have we come to this? The greatest cultures throughout human history have always reserved the highest positions of eminence and respect for true heroes-people who distinguish themselves by great self-sacrifice, moral excellence, or some truly great accomplishment. They only societies that confer celebrity status on immoral and villainous people have been cultures in serious decline and on the precipice of utter ruin.

One of the universally understood rules of thumb that governed western society until a few short decades ago was that people who achieved fame had a duty to be wholesome role models. Even men and women who weren't really of sterling virtue in private sought to keep their character flaws hidden from the public-because if their moral defects became known, they lost their star status. Political figures could not remain in office if they were found culpable for any scandalous moral indiscretion.

That is no longer the case. Today's celebrities proudly flaunt their decadence. With the rise of a massive entertainment industry in the second half of the twentieth century, celebrity became a cheap and shallow commodity. Honest character is now seen as totally optional-or worse, hopelessly unfashionable. As a matter of fact, in certain segments of today's entertainment and music industries, authentic virtue would be practically incompatible with fame and success. Some of the best-known figures in the recording industry, for example, are avowed gangsters who openly glorify evil in their lyrics. It is frightening to contemplate the future of a society where so many people so badly lacking in character can attain celebrity status so easily-and often hang onto their fame and influence no matter what crimes they commit.

The Bible says that is exactly what happens when a society rejects God and thereby incurs His righteous judgment. Romans 1:21-32 describes the downward path of a culture abandoned to sin. Take note of the roster of evils that finally overwhelm every fallen society. The list closely resembles everything currently fashionable in the world of entertainment and celebrity:

Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:28-32)

That describes our culture to the letter, doesn't it? People today literally entertain themselves with iniquity, heedlessly applauding those who sin most flagrantly. Society today makes celebrities of people who in our grandparents' generation would have been deemed the most contemptible rogues. Almost everything that used to be considered shameful is now celebrated. We therefore live in a culture where personal character and individual virtue are rapidly evaporating at almost every level. Virtue and infamy have traded places.

According to the Bible, God designed us to be men and women of exemplary character. He repeatedly commands us to pursue what is virtuous and shun what is evil. From cover to cover in Scripture, iniquity is condemned and virtue is exalted.

Clearly, we are supposed to be men and women of excellent character. We're commanded to "hold fast what is good [and] abstain from every form of evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22).

But where do we go to learn how to do that? Popular culture will not point the way for us. Scripture alone is a reliable lamp for our feet and light for our path (Psalm 119:105). God's Word points the way in the quest for character.

The Bible contains numerous lists of positive character qualities. Second Peter 1:5-8, for example, gives a catalogue of virtues and urges us to add to our faith. The fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5, the qualities of authentic love in 1 Corinthians 13, and the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 all list similar traits that describe true excellence of character.

Truly excellent character is actually a reflection of the moral nature of God Himself. For that reason, all virtues are interdependent and closely related. And all of them are the fruit of God's grace. As you study biblical virtue, may you perceive the true beauty of Christ's character and desire to see it reproduced in your own life.

Excerpted from The Quest for Character, by John MacArthur. © Copyright 2006. All rights reserved.

Saturday, March 01, 2008

The Truth About the Devil by Greg Laurie

The Truth about the Devil
Today's devotional is brought to you by Greg Laurie, A New Beginning

"Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out." John 12:31 KJV

Martin Luther had it right when he wrote the words of the hymn, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God": "For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe--his craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal."

If you are a Christian, then you need to know that you have an adversary out there. He wants to trip you up. He wants to drag you down.

We should never underestimate the devil. He is a sly and skillful adversary. He has had many years of experience dealing with humanity. That's why there are some important things we need to remember about the devil--things that the devil doesn't want us to know.

We need to understand that satan is nowhere near to being the equal of God. God is omnipotent, which means that He is all-powerful. God is omniscient, which means that He is all-knowing. God is omnipresent, which means that He is present everywhere.

In sharp and direct contrast, we need to know that the devil does not reflect any of these divine attributes. Although he is very powerful, satan is not omnipotent. Nor is satan omniscient. He can't know everything you are thinking. His knowledge is limited. Finally, he is not omnipresent. While God can be everywhere at the same time, satan only can be in one place at one time.

Most important of all, we need to know that the devil was soundly defeated at the Cross. There he lost his stranglehold on the life of the human race. As a Christian, you have been set free by the power of Jesus Christ.

Satan hates you and has a terrible plan for your life. If he cannot succeed in robbing you of eternal life, he will do everything in his power to deprive you of the joy, influence, and rewards that come from serving God in this life. Since satan cannot be in more than one place at a time, he has delegated much of his work to demons who discourage distract, and deceive through a variety of means.What Demons Want To Do To You Dr. Robert Jeffress, PATHWAY TO VICTORY

Contrary to what some suggest, there is no magic phrase or mantra we can say that will bind satan. But God has not left us without a divine strategy for dealing with our enemy. And Nothing But the Truth John MacArthur, GRACE TO YOU

When huge pain comes into your life-like divorce, or the loss of a precious family member, or the dream of wholeness shattered-it is good to have a few things settled with God ahead of time. When Satan Hurts Christ's People John Piper, DESIRING GOD

While death is a decided fact, Death is also a defeated foe. We are able to laugh in the face of Death if we know the Lord Jesus Christ. I want to tell you, friend, Death may buzz around you and frighten you, but our elder brother, the Lord Jesus, bears that sting. Jesus took the sting out of Death, and He has given us a hope that is steadfast and sure. The Day Death Died Dr. Adrian Rogers, LOVE WORTH FINDING

May the Lord richly bless you!
The Oneplace.com Team
http://www.oneplace.com
Listen for Life!

Emilio's Corner: Speaking in Smiles

On the 23rd of February, we attended the formal opening of the one-man photo exhibit of my cousin Paulo Canivel entitled Emilio's Corner: Speaking in Smiles. The exhibit covers 9 families who are living with members who have Down's Syndrome. Paulo's inspiration for this exhibit was inspired by his late brother Emilio who was born with Down's Syndrome. Emilio's life was short, 3 years, but filled with so much lessons in love and inspiration. Unfortunately, I did not get to meet Emilio, or Mio, as he was fondly called. I posted a letter written by Paulo's sister Chinie at an earlier post.

Walking through the exhibit, we got to meet in print some of the subjects of the Paulo. However, those pictures came to life a little later when a number of them made their appearance. I was so blessed to have had the opportunity to meet at least two of the. Jaye Jaye and Jessica along with their mothers. Also had a short abut very special conversation with the son of the president of the Down's Syndrome Association of the Philippines, Inc.

I am so proud that my cousin has taken much interest in raising the awareness of people who have Down's Syndrome. I think that these people are among the very few in this creation that are able to express unencumbered love to everyone they meet. Love so pure that these angels leave the recipient of their hugs tingling with joy.