(Florida) Doctor With Big Medicare Billings Is No Stranger to Scrutiny (NJ Sen Menendez' donor/pal)

NY TIMES ^

[Liz]

The South Fla doctor who billed Medicare for $21 million in 2012 alone, is a generous political donor to NJ Sen Robert Menendez, now under investigation by federal public corruption prosecutors. The millionaire surgeon, lives luxuriously in North Palm Beach, Fla, and travels by private jet, to his luxe villa in the Dominican Republic.

Menendez took free rides on the doctor’s private jet and stayed at his luxury resort villa in the Dominican Republic. The senator was forced to pay back the cost of the travel under scrutiny. Melgen donated over $700,000 to Menendez's PAC......Menendez made calls on the Melgen’s behalf to HHS when Melgen was beset with overbilling allegations.

Menendez advocated on behalf of the doctor during a special Senate hearing into a port security contract in the Dominican Republic. The hearing involved a port security company that Dr. Melgen had purchased in the hopes that the Dominican Republic would start screening every container on every outbound vessel. The Customs agency refused to honor the contract; Sen Menendez urged US officials to get involved. Without mentioning his friend, the senator used his powerful position to urge federal agencies not to donate free port equipment that would have competed with the doctor’s business plans.

Dr. Melgen and his family in the Dominican Republic are powerful members of the political establishment. Dr. Melgen co-founded Voxxi, a Hispanic-oriented news site, which has published laudatory articles about the doctor and the Senator.

[Liz]

Menendez must be sweating bullets----ace WNBC reporter, Jonathan Dienst, did the towering investigation of NJ Sen Robert Torricelli which forced the crook out of office.

Dienst himself has said "....the investigation of Senator Torricelli’s alleged corruption was an extraordinary exercise in journalism; going out and spending about six months on that story working almost non-stop digging and digging, trying to find corroboration to allegations that the senator had an improper relationship with a convicted felon."

" So we were out meeting with merchants, meeting with defense lawyers, meeting with investigators, members of Congress, and meeting with anyone who might have information about the senator’s alleged wrong doing."

"We obtained documents, tapes and materials and it was at a very important time. The election was coming up, the balance of power weighed in the balance and the fact that we were able to show and highlight some of the senator’s activities so that the voters knew. That was an incredible story to be a part of."

[Celtic Conservative]

Blindfold. Cigarette. Bullet. Lather, rinse, repeat until the stench from Washington starts to dissipate.

CC

[Liz]

Elsewhere, POLITICO revealed that Dr Melgen assiduously courted President Barack Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, but that Melgen was unhappy with the return on his donation "investments" to these individuals.

After meeting briefly with Obama at a 2010 fundraiser that Dr Melgen paid $30,400 to co-host, the eye doctor complained that “Obama didn’t even give him the time of day,” according to a source who travels in the same Miami political circles as Melgen.

The source said Melgen also expressed frustration that he couldn’t take his concerns about his questionable Medicare billing practices directly to Obama’s Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius.

“He was ranting about HHS and Sebelius not understanding and not wanting to listen to him and not giving him a hearing,” said the source, who did not want to be identified WRT revealing the contents of private conversations.

The picture the White House does not want you to see.

A beaming Obama w/ Dr Melgen at his side.

Melgen (under investigation for govt fraud) paid
$30,400 for the privilege of co-hosting a 2009 fundraiser
for Democrats' DSCC committee then-headed by NJ's Menendez.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Tar.
Feathers...

[Liz]

MENENDEZ IS OBAMA'S POINT MAN FOR AMNESTY
THE PROTECTION RACKET BEGINS HERE The Senate
Immigration "Reform" Bill Protects Crooked Latino
Public Officials in US positions from prosecution for
wrongdoing in elective and appointive office.

THE SUCK-UP

DC Gala--Ntl Assoc of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials
L-R--Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ);
Dr Salomon Melgen, VOXXI Chman (now under investigation);
Rep Nancy Pelosi (D-CAL); San Francisco
J. Sanchez, US Under Secy of Commerce for Intl Trade,
Emilio Sanchez, Pres/CEO of VOXXI.
(Photo/Voxxi---Melgen's ethnic solidarity web site)

[Celtic Conservative]

That works too and is somewhat less “permanent” than my option.

CC

In the same vein as your sugestion, look up “pitchcapping”.

[Liz]

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC SAVING MENENDEZ'S SORRY A** AS PRES OBAMA REACHES FOR THE FEDERAL CHECKBOOK (the reward for avoiding the dreaded Christie Republican appointment)

Americans should rise up in anger and demand corrupt Dominican Republic politicians stop meddling in our affairs. Clearly Menendez/Melgen colluded and conspired with the top echelon of the corrupt Dominican govt to bailout Menendez.

These shady Third World tactics diminish and marginalize the grassroots American democratic process. Menendez in league with Third World pols is a side show we can do without.

Its reprehensible to see Dominican national Vincio Castillo Seman sucking up for Menendez. He should be sidelined along with his father---a Dominican presidential adviser---and his brother---a member of the DR Congress.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC MEDDLES IN US AFFAIRS--MOVES TO SAVE MENENDEZ'S CORRUPT ***: AP reports that Vincio Castillo Seman, the Dominican lawyer involved in Menendez's underage prostitute mess, is hog-tied to the top echelon of the Dominican govt---Seman's father is a Dominican presidential adviser and his brother is a member of the Dominican Republic Congress.

Menendez's donor/pal, Dr Melgen, is a top political operator in his native land.

=========================================

MEMO TO THE CASTILLO FAMILY Keep out, and stay out, of American affairs.

[demshateGod]

Does Senator Menenzdez frequent underage Puerto Rican prostitutes?

[Liz]

Sen Menendez crassly used tax-paid US govt resources, govt authority, and his privileged Senatorial position, to convene a special hearing on the Dominican Republic port deal---Menendez was the only Senator present at the hearing but the hearing had the full force of the US govt.

Self-serving Menendez---advocating for his donor/pal Melgen---dragged US officials up to the Hill for questioning---pressuring US officials about why the Dominican port deal had not gone through.

The Times quotes Menendez at the hearing: "You have another company (Melgen's deal) that has 'American investors' that is seeking to - has a contract actually given to it by the - kind of ratified by the Dominican Congress----to do X-ray of all of the cargo that goes through the ports, which have been problematic and for which in the past narcotics have been included in those cargo," the senator said.

Menendez later reinforced his authority by phoning US officials at the Depts of State and Commerce on behalf of a large campaign donor--Melgen.

==============================================

POSTED AS A HANDY REFERENCE A Miami paper is reporting that cargo flights carried millions of US greenbacks in suitcases, cargo containers and money bags from Mexico to Texas, and then to Miami Intl Airport, on a routine schedule.

From there, authorities say, the money was laundered by two Mexican businessmen through a Miami-Dade check-cashing company that used the dollars to cash the payroll checks of undocumented workers at local supermarkets.

It was all part of a Mexican-Miami bulk-cash network that federal agents say may be funded by drug profits south of the US border.

The culprits--Martin Diaz and Enrique Guerra--arrested earlier this month, appeared before a federal magistrate on charges of conspiring to launder US dollars for the purpose of “harboring illegal aliens’’ in this country. (Excerpt) Read more at miamiherald.com ...

[GailA]

Liz, most of them who treat Medicare/Tricare Life BILL PAD, same goes for Medicaid.

My internist requires every 3 month visits, chest xrays, EKG and he is running Thyroid panels too. That I found out by accident. January’s test panel was HOT. He orders a Radioactive Thyroid Scan. Now I don’t take kindly to him meddling in my ENDO’s care. Nor ordering a very dangerous test given my reaction history, and the fact I am nearly bone on bone C 3-7 with a disc damage at the C3 All those disc are V shaped. I could not do the test.

I HAVE a ENDOCRINOLOGIST for a reason, internist under treatment of hypothyroid disease.

I have no need of a EKG or Chest X Ray every 3 months NO health issues require them.

Hubby has a CARDIO for his slight BP issue, he has NO NEED of the Thyroid or Chest X rays. His Cardio sees him often enough so the EKG is not needed either.

I can buy the 2 for base line as he is a new dr to us, but not every blooming 3 months.

All he is supposed to do is write our scripts, treat anything new or send to specialist, monitor the meds we take. EKG if a surgeon requires one.

[Liz]

MENENDEZ AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC---AN IRON GRIP ON AMERICA'S POLITICAL/ELECTORAL SYSTEM--its greedy tentacles surface in every facet of US power centers.

LYING-IN-WAIT Neutral Dominican Republic travel brochures recount how the cunning Dominican govt survives on billions of our tax dollars which its illegal residents located here send back home---all of them riding the US gravy train.

The do-nothing Caribbean Third World satrap is teeming with poverty. The do-nothing Dominican govt provides no social safety nets for needy citizenry. The connivers work the US system---quitely and secretly lying-in-wait---to maximize its iron grip on America's power centers.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC MEDDLES IN US AFFAIRS---MOVING TO SAVE MENENDEZ It is an unconscionable travesty against representative democracy-- that the corrupt Dominican Republic meddling in US affairs---cooking the books offshore to help Menendez stay in power.

HOW DO YOU SAY QUID PRO QUO IN SPANISH? Clearly, a deal was made. IF (BIG IF) the Dominican Republic saves Menendez's degenerate a** (and prevents the dreaded Christie appointment), Obama will write the foreign aid check w/ plenty of zeros.

BOTTOM LINE Menendez has TWO governments protecting him----New Jerseyans have not even one government looking after our interests. The Gimme Zombies meddling marginalizes Americans, and undermines our political system.

[GailA]

Report: 125,000 illegals in California qualified to be covered by Medicaid
http://americanthinker.com/blog/2014/02/report_125000_illegals_in_california_qualified_to_be_covered_by_medicaid.html

Medicare And Medicaid Fraud Is Costing Taxpayers Billions
http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2012/05/31/medicare-and-medicaid-fraud-is-costing-taxpayers-billions/

THESE ARE ILLEGAL INVADERS, not immigrants.
Immigrants and Prison
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/30/business/30leonside.html?_r=0

[Liz]

Melgen--big Menendez donor--courted Obama, Harry Reid; golfed w/ Clinton
By KENNETH P. VOGEL and TARINI PARTI---M. Scott Mahaskey contributed to 3/19/13 Politico report.

EXCERPT Salomon Melgen had a knack for going straight to the top. He posed for pictures with Obama, flew Harry Reid on his private jet and sought advice on a port security deal from an ex-CIA agent who helped lead the hunt for Osama bin Laden, POLITICO has learned.

Melgen, a wealthy South Florida eye doctor and investor, has seen his flashy forays onto the political stage backfire in spectacular fashion in the past few months. Federal investigators are probing his business dealings. He’s at the center of the controversy over Sen. Robert Menendez (Dem-NJ) and prostitutes in the Dominican Republic.

And now, new details show that Melgen also courted other leading politicians, including two of the top Democrats in Washington. There is no evidence that either Obama or Reid inappropriately sought to aid Melgen.

Melgen briefly schmoozed Obama at a 2010 fundraiser Melgen co-hosted benefiting the DSCC, which Menendez then-chaired. The president posed with his arm around Melgen in a photo obtained exclusively by POLITICO.

“Everybody gets a photo-op, but the host committee just gets a few extra minutes to meet with the president,” said Seema Sharma, who hosted the fundraiser at her family home in the Washington suburbs. Melgen “shook hands with [Obama] and told him he was from Florida,” Sharma said. It was “just small talk, chitchat. There’s just not enough time to have a detailed discussion or any lengthy conversation.”

But Melgen wasn’t happy with the return on his investment — co-hosting required the maximum $30,400 donation to the DSCC — according to a source in Miami political circles. “He had mentioned to me once that he had given all this money to go to an Obama fundraiser, and Obama didn’t even give him the time of day,” said the source, who didn’t want to be identified revealing the contents of private conversations. “He went up to talk to him, and he felt very slighted by the president. He was pretty angry.”

The White House declined to comment for this report.

Melgen also tried courting the top Senate Democrat: Harry Reid of Nevada. Melgen flew Reid on his company’s private plane last summer to Boston and back for a Majority PAC event, Reid’s office confirmed to POLITICO. Majority PAC, a super PAC closely linked to Reid that benefits Senate Democratic candidates, reported reimbursing Melgen’s ophthalmology company $4,160 for “travel” last summer. That filing does not specify who did the traveling, when it occurred or the destination, but Reid’s office said that payment was for Reid’s trip to Boston. “Sen. Reid took a flight that was in full compliance with FEC rules and fully paid for,” said his spokesman Adam Jentleson.

Flight records show that Melgen’s plane flew from his home airport in West Palm Beach, Fla., to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Sunday afternoon, June 17, then took off at 7:15 the next morning, June 18, en route to Boston. It stayed on the ground less than three hours, before lifting off to return to Reagan, which requires special security clearance for private planes. Melgen also donated $700,000 last year to Majority PAC, which spent $582,500 supporting Menendez’s 2012 reelection campaign — which Menendez won by 18 percentage points.

Melgen went to top officials about the Dominican government’s reluctance to implement a $500 million port cargo-screening contract with one of his companies and to challenge the finding that another of his companies overbilled Medicare.

While he was glad-handing politicians, Melgen was living the high life, driven around South Florida by chauffeur in a customized Audi A8 and all manner of politicos invited to his mansion in the Dominican Republic.

Melgen keeps an enviable collection of photos with politicians — including one of him golfing with Bill Clinton ....... more at politico.com

[GailA]

AND RETIRED MILITARY OVER 65 ARE MANDATED AS OF 4/14/2014 TO USE THIS SERVICE. ES, UPS leaves your meds on the porch for kids, teens, meth makers, or thieves to steal, NO ID sign for, even when pain meds are in the order.

Express Scripts complaints
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/rx/express_scripts.html

EX Fraud
https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/directory/express-scripts

Express Scripts Extortion Scheme Widens
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2009/09/express_scripts_breach.html

CBO: The military is getting squeezed for domestic spending cash
http://www.humanevents.com/2014/02/26/cbo-the-military-is-getting-squeezed-for-domestic-spending-cash/

[Liz]

Thanks for the links——ironic that Dr Melgen’s business locale-—Florida-—is considered the epicenter of Medicaid fraud, according to a CBS report.

[Liz]

FYI----a US post office near the border was used by illegals to send gravy train money back home. It was so busy, the US govt had to add-on several trailers to handle the business.

===============================================

All signs point to Obama's point-man on amnesty---US Sen Bobby Menendez---is in a pickle WRT his activities vis as vis the Dominican Republic.

FACTS SEN MENENDEZ DOES NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: (from a DR travel brochure) the DR is a Caribbean nation notorious for corrupt governments and strong-arm dictators. Despite US politicans' fondness for the "amenities" at its posh resorts and celebrities relaxing at posh villas spending big bucks there, the DR has no safety net or state-sponsored job creation for its largely impoverished citizenry.

The one million Dominican citizens currently living illegally in the US send home about a billion US dollars annually---which is considered by the corrupt do-nothing DR govt to be a major source of state revenue. A steady exodus leaves for US shores (lured by the endless US gravy train).

===========================================

The Dominican Republic govt and Sen menendez no doubt know that massive financial benefits would derive from amnesty......Third world pressure groups exchanging votes for foreign aid---zillions of us tax dollars going straight into the pockets of corrupt third world federales

THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES W/ PRESSURE GROUPS IN THE US (here illegally sending billions back home): Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico (stateside), Salvador, Spain, Uruguay, Venezuela.

===========================================

The more cynical among us see the push for amnesty on Capitol Hill concealing a dark, corrupt hidden agenda WRT US laws. For example, underage males/females cannot legally consent to sex here in the US---it is considered Statuatory Rape in civilized countries.

But sex w/ minors is legal in the Third World. That would change w/ amnesty.

[George from New England]

Where there’s smoke, you’ll find a fire.

You can bet D.C. is full of this stuff, probably one hundred fold.

[txrefugee]

The oncologist who bagged the most money from Medicare is serving a prison sentence. It’s a good thing for this government-scamming doctor that he’s a friend of Mendez, because Democrats take care of their friends.

[Uncle Chip]

$21 million from Medicare billings for a retinal surgeon is a lot of macular degeneration.

His lawyer said he has about 1000 patients and does about 92,000 procedures annually using vials that cost him $2,000 vial which he is supposed to discard after each procedure.

The numbers don’t seem to add up.