SF Bay Area lawmaker’s request for hearing on Medicare fraud by hospital chain granted

 News
Apr 032014
 
SF Bay Area lawmaker’s request for hearing on Medicare fraud by hospital chain granted

INQUIRER.net US Bureau 4:26 am | Friday, April 4th, 2014 • Republican chair of oversight agrees to hearing request by Democratic colleague • Florida-based hospital chain under fire for alleged fraud • $600 million taxpayers’ money allegedly stolen in scheme Rep. Jackie Speier. FEMINIST.ORG PHOTO WASHINGTON, DC — The Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Darrell Issa agreed to hold a hearing into alleged Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE fraud by a for-profit hospital chain. Congresswomen Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco/San Mateo/Redwood City) requested the hearing after claims emerged of potential Medicare and Medicaid fraud conducted by Health Management Associates (HMA), a for-profit hospital chain based in Naples, Florida, that is being sued by the U.S. Department of Justice. “I appreciate Chairman Issa agreeing to hold a hearing on this important bipartisan issue,” Speier stated in a letter to Issa. “These federal programs are obviously vulnerable to fraud, which puts the health care needs of our seniors, our poor, our service members, and our veterans at risk.” Speier added that “taxpayers have allegedly been ripped off by $600 million in this scheme and a full investigation by the Oversight committee should go toward protecting these valuable programs and the millions of Americans they serve.” Since 2009, the DOJ has recovered more than $19 billion through False Claims Act cases, with more than $13.4 billion recovered from cases involving federal health care programs. RELATED STORIES Speier and USCIS Reach Out to Citizenship Applicants US solon vows help for RP over Read More …

China: PH tarnishing Beijing’s international image

 News
Apr 032014
 
China: PH tarnishing Beijing’s international image

A Philippine Marine gestures at a Chinese Coast Guard vessel which tries to block a Philippine Government vessel AM700 from approaching the Second Thomas Shoal (local name Ayungin Shoal) to resupply and replace fellow marines who were deployed for almost five months Saturday, March 29, 2014 off South China Sea on the West Philippine Sea. AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—China on Thursday accused the Philippines of “abuse of process” in seeking United Nations arbitration to settle disputes in the South China Sea, calling Manila’s move a “smear campaign” to tarnish Beijing’s image in the international community. China blamed the Philippines for the maritime dispute, insisting yet again that it has sovereignty over the territories and reiterating it has a “solid historic[al] and legal basis” for its claim, playing down the relative proximity of some of the islands to the Philippines’ western coast. “The Philippines’ arbitration proceeding completely confuses right and wrong, distorts the fact and diverts attentions. The aim of its move is to cover up the illegal nature of [the] Philippines’ infringement and provocative behavior by the abuse of process against China, and to defraud the international community of its sympathy and support,” Chinese Embassy spokesperson Zhang Hua said in a 12-page statement. No comment from DFA The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) declined to comment on China’s diatribe. On Wednesday, DFA spokesman Charles Jose said President Aquino had already spoken on the matter and that it had nothing to add to the Chief Executive’s statement. Speaking at the Read More …

‘Miss Saigon’ alum to mark 30 years on stage with music, dance, fashion, dinner-show

 General
Apr 032014
 
‘Miss Saigon’ alum to mark 30 years on stage with music, dance, fashion, dinner-show

Miguel Braganza II (front, right) with “Miss Saigon” cast mates NEW YORK, NY – Longtime stage artist and “Miss Saigon” alumnus Miguel Braganza II is celebrating his 30 years in dance and theater by inviting friends and the public to an evening of music, dance and fashion billed as “Salamat, Salamat, New York” on Friday, May 2, 7:30 p.m. at Sheraton La Guardia East Hotel (135-20 39th Ave., Flushing, NY). “Salamat, Salamat, New York,” (Thank You, Thank You, New York) features an international cast and fashion designer Arielle Agasang’s haute couture collection. It is produced by the nonprofit organization Filipinos in the Arts in America, Inc. (FilinArts), in cooperation with Queens Asian Fest. Braganza has conceptualized and choreographed the show and is directing it as well. Lighting design is by Alex Denevers, sound design by Edmundo Quinones and additional choreography is by Qi Min, Rowena Bontor O’Mary and Rolly Postadan. Part of the proceeds from the dinner show will go to various arts programs developed by FilinArts for Filipino American youths in the New York Tri-State area. FilinArts  promotes and presents works of Filipinos and Filipino-Americans. It also trains young artists, creates performing opportunities and community development through cultural exchange programs and professional productions in music, dance, theater and fashion. Originally from the Philippines, Braganza was Walter Terry scholar in the dance performance and choreography program at Harvard University in the ‘80s. He was assistant to Tony Award-winning director John Dexter in the original Broadway production of “M. Butterfly” from Read More …

Talk deal set with EFTA

 Economy
Apr 022014
 

AN AGREEMENT that will spur further talks on a possible trade arrangement between the Philippines and the four-member European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is expected to be signed in June, a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) official said. “We’re hoping to sign the Joint Declaration of Cooperation in June in Europe. We are just now refining the declaration,” DTI Undersecretary Adriwan S. Cristobal, Jr. told reporters in a chance interview in Makati City.

BIR takes lead in importer accreditation process

 Economy
Apr 022014
 

IN AN effort to curb incidents of smuggling that have robbed the government of billions of pesos, the Department of Finance recently issued Department Order (DO) No. 12-2014, requiring importers to secure an Importer Clearance Certificate (ICC) from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) as part of their accreditation process with the Bureau of Customs (BoC).

 Older Entries  Newer Entries