Posted on 12/14/2004 7:59:19 AM PST by truth49
Edited on 08/21/2014 2:17:12 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
State Auditor Brian Sonntag says he cannot properly account for any of Medicaid's $6.1 billion annual budget in Washington because the program's employees deliberately obstructed an official audit. Sonntag plans to "disclaim" the entire state Medicaid system in a highly critical audit his office expects to release within two weeks. A disclaimed audit means the auditor did not get enough information to reach an opinion, because the information was either withheld or non-existent.
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
See Also:
State auditor denied access to state records
http://www.effwa.org/highlighters/v14_n20.php
DSHS response to the 2003 Statewide Audit in its own words
http://www.effwa.org/highlighters/v14_n8.php
State's fraud investigators need refuge from politics
http://www.effwa.org/highlighters/v14_n30.php
State audit oversight: Legislature's deafening silence
http://www.effwa.org/highlighters/v14_n10.php
Time running out for day care prosecutors
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/story/5879899p-5792424c.html
EFF files federal complaint against DSHS
http://www.effwa.org/press_releases/2004_06_10.php
DSHS: "No doubt there is fraud throughout the state..."
http://www.effwa.org/press_releases/2004_07_22.php
GASP! How could this happen in a state run by enlightened Kerry voters??
If Dino makes it I sense a roast coming on...8-)
Denied access to records sounds like the dims took a page out of JF___SKERY"S book
When in doubt, blame the machine.
Sometimes it feels like we live in a cesspool!
"Braddock said yesterday there may be legitimate reasons for apparent payments to dead people. For example, a woman who doesn't have a Social Security number could be registered in Medicaid's system under her deceased husband's number, he said."
Umm... If the woman is receiving payments I would expect that she would be required to file a tax return. To do that I would think that she would need a social security number.
The legitimate reason doesn't seem to add up.
It sounds like this program needs to be under new leadership, and if they don't clean up the problem quickly, then the Federal funds should be withheld.
Our tax dollars shouldn't continue to be handed out by people who refuse to be held accountable.
This is horrendous.
It revives the old question of DSHS being so large and cumbersome that it isn't properly overseen. I contend that if Washington were able to attract quality Secretaries and Deputy Secretaries to all key posts and retain them, this problem would be vastly shaved down. However, we are not able to keep top-notch Secretaries long-term due the several factors (politics being the main one).
When things deteriorate to the point of gross mismanagement such as listed above, and other bad fruit, such as children dying because their case workers didn't see the threat to their lives (as happens far too often under DSHS "oversight"), then it is past time for the Legislature to dismantle this behemoth.
Rossi: when you get the third certified win (assuming that you do), go after this monstrosity.
For example, a woman who doesn't have a Social Security number..... Can this happen in 2005???
Thank you for this post. Will read later.
Interesting that the article doesn't mention the million missing Vicodin pills...
BIGTIME BUMP!!!
So how much of this fraud is taking place exclusively in King County?
Enquiring minds want to know....
Brian Sonntag is the only Democrat I voted for this year. (well, it helped that his Republican opponent was a conviced felon who only got on the ballot because nobody else filed)
He's a standup guy who does a good job and is constantly fighting with his own party on things like this and performance audits.
Recount:
Definitaion:
When Democrats hold a Circle Jerk while listening to the Benny Hill theme song...
I added the keywords for Rossi, because I see this as reason #1 why we need Dino...
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