Medicaid Fraud from a State Senator

[377OHMS]

Welcome to the Republican party in North Carolina - where a State Senator took tens of thousands of dollars in welfare benefits while making over $100,000 per year.

Welfare fraud allegations surface in state Senate race
http://abc11.com/politics/welfare-fraud-allegations-surface-in-state-senate-race-/331343/

North Carolina Republicans are calling on state Senator Wesley Meredith to refute welfare fraud allegations, or repay the funds
http://abc11.com/politics/nc-gop-responds-to-candidate-welfare-fraud-allegations/332438/

Senator's ex-wife speaks on welfare fraud allegations
http://abc11.com/politics/senators-ex-wife-speaks-on-welfare-fraud-allegations/334343/

This is representative of what our politicians think of the public... there is no crime that they cannot get away with.

Of course, Senator Meredith will have a lot to account for. He is, after all, one of of those in the legislature that opposed expanding Medicaid.

Ok its a divorce thing but I admit that I'm a bit confused here.

How do you get welfare with 100k income? They were told that they "met the criteria"? By whom?

Who has the hutzpah to run for public office after booking 100k income the same year you collect welfare?

Wtf?

 

[LEAPup]

Ok its a divorce thing but I admit that I'm a bit confused here.

How do you get welfare with 100k income? They were told that they "met the criteria"? By whom?

Who has the hutzpah to run for public office after booking 100k income the same year you collect welfare?

Wtf?

I'll say, he's got balls to pull that one. However, I'll also point out he could turn it into a slam dunk. I'll sadly take him over another political whore, ambulance-chasing, Nazicrat. Isn't that a sign of the times, where I have to vote for the lesser criminal..

 

[377OHMS]

I'll say, he's got balls to pull that one. However, I'll also point out he could turn it into a slam dunk. I'll sadly take him over another political whore, ambulance-chasing, Nazicrat. Isn't that a sign of the times, where I have to vote for the lesser criminal..

No. I'm not voting for anyone who collects welfare and 100k the same year. Fuck that.

 

[AAAintheBeltway]

I will admit I'm curious what his explanation could be. I can see a situation where you make $100k in say nine months, have an expense heavy lifestyle based on that income, lose your job and can't pay your bills.

He could come up with some explanation,then say "I'm not going to apologize for trying to protect my wife and baby."

Sadly, even if he's as bad as the article tries to make him look, I'd vote for him over the democrat. Why should we have higher standards and continually hand elections to democrats just to make ourselves feel superior? Democrats supported Clinton when he had engaged in obstruction of justice. They support Alcee Hastings, a black congressman from florida who was disbarred as a federal judge for taking bribes. They support Marion "Mayor for Life" Barry and his crack habit, sleazy lifestyle and cavalier attitude toward taxes and traffic tickets. Obama pissed away more money than this guy took sending an airplane for his frickin dog. Liberals and the media save their outrage for republicans, we all know that.

 

[LEAPup]

I will admit I'm curious what his explanation could be. I can see a situation where you make $100k in say nine months, have an expense heavy lifestyle based on that income, lose your job and can't pay your bills.

He could come up with some explanation,then say "I'm not going to apologize for trying to protect my wife and baby."

Sadly, even if he's as bad as the article tries to make him look, I'd vote for him over the democrat. Why should we have higher standards and continually hand elections to democrats just to make ourselves feel superior? Democrats supported Clinton when he had engaged in obstruction of justice. They support Alcee Hastings, a black congressman from florida who was disbarred as a federal judge for taking bribes. They support Marion "Mayor for Life" Barry and his crack habit, sleazy lifestyle and cavalier attitude toward taxes and traffic tickets. Obama pissed away more money than this guy took sending an airplane for his frickin dog. Liberals and the media save their outrage for republicans, we all know that.

Agreed, and would vote for him vs the obvious Nazi. Again, he's just the lesser of the bad, which, as always, speaks volumes about our current, "moving forward" society..

 

[377OHMS]

I will admit I'm curious what his explanation could be. I can see a situation where you make $100k in say nine months, have an expense heavy lifestyle based on that income, lose your job and can't pay your bills.

He could come up with some explanation,then say "I'm not going to apologize for trying to protect my wife and baby."

Sadly, even if he's as bad as the article tries to make him look, I'd vote for him over the democrat. Why should we have higher standards and continually hand elections to democrats just to make ourselves feel superior? Democrats supported Clinton when he had engaged in obstruction of justice. They support Alcee Hastings, a black congressman from florida who was disbarred as a federal judge for taking bribes. They support Marion "Mayor for Life" Barry and his crack habit, sleazy lifestyle and cavalier attitude toward taxes and traffic tickets. Obama pissed away more money than this guy took sending an airplane for his frickin dog. Liberals and the media save their outrage for republicans, we all know that.

Yeah, it must be a scenario like you've described. Sudden loss of income though you might expect a couple with decent income to have significant savings.

 

[gwb-trading]

Yeah, it must be a scenario like you've described. Sudden loss of income though you might expect a couple with decent income to have significant savings.

I call Bullshiat! If you read the articles you will find out that he earned over $95K AGI the year before, the year he applied, and the year after he used Medicaid. Your eligibility for Medicaid in North Carolina (at that time) was based on your income of the previous year and/or an assertion about your current year's income. He fails under both criteria.

 

[AAAintheBeltway]

I call Bullshiat! If you read the articles you will find out that he earned over $95K AGI the year before, the year he applied, and the year after he used Medicaid. Your eligibility for Medicaid in North Carolina (at that time) was based on your income of the previous year and/or an assertion about your current year's income. He fails under both criteria.

So how did he qualify? Wouldn't you have to present a tax return or some proof? Surely they don't just take your word for it?

 

[gwb-trading]

So how did he qualify? Wouldn't you have to present a tax return or some proof? Surely they don't just take your word for it?

Similar to most states they take your work for it initially, then there is supposed to be a backroom process where they check your information against your previous tax return on an ancient mainframe system.

As expected, the process does not work very well in detecting fraud.

 

[DHOHHI]

Similar to most states they take your work for it initially, then there is supposed to be a backroom process where they check your information against your previous tax return on an ancient mainframe system.

As expected, the process does not work very well in detecting fraud.

One big reason all kinds of fraud slips through is that government employees have no real accountability. It's next to impossible to be fired, even for gross negligence. Take a look at Medicare and Medicaid fraud. Why is there so much of it? Those processing claims rubber stamp them most of the time. Now compare that to a private insurance company. BC/BS will scrutinize every claim and do everything in their power to deny the claim or make as small a payment as they can. Case in point .. when we had BC/BS every year when I had my bloodwork done for my physical they would try to deny the claim and not make payment for approved tests (lipid, CBC). And the approved amount for the blood draw and tests was maybe $35. One year we went back and forth almost 6 months until I told them I'd sue if they didn't pay the claim. It was immediately approved and a supervisor called me back asking if I were going to take legal action. They try to wear people down until you give up and pay. But with Medicare & Medicaid it's a totally different ballgame, mainly because they are not trying to maximize profit. They don't care what the costs are .. the government has unlimited $$ in their minds.