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Professor: Bad Math Led to $100 Million Medicare Fraud Tally
NBC Miami ^

Posted on 12/06/2017 10:25:37 PM PST by nickcarraway

Attorneys for a prominent Florida eye doctor used a statistician to challenge the government's assertion that he stole $100 million from the federal Medicaid program.

The amount Dr. Salomon Melgen stole will help determine the length of his sentence. The government said its estimate is based on a random sample of 310 patients.

But University of North Florida math professor Donna Mohr testified Wednesday the sample wasn't random, making the extrapolation faulty.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Marra didn't say whether he will accept Mohr's testimony.

Marra had been expected to sentence Melgen on Thursday after both sides make arguments, but the judge said Wednesday he might need more time to decide the sentence. The 63-year-old Melgen could get life; his lawyers want less than 10 years.

He is separately charged with bribing New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: florida; medicaid

1 posted on 12/06/2017 10:25:37 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

Some numbers, like those that start with one occur more randomly than others, like numbers that start with nine. For anybody that remembers slide rules its why the lines bunch up as you move nearer to nine.


2 posted on 12/06/2017 10:32:53 PM PST by Nateman (The louder the left screams , the better it is for America!)
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To: nickcarraway
He is separately charged with bribing New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez.

Wow, the article actually uses the word ‘Democrat’ when talking about a Senator the accepted a bribe!

Whoever wrote this story is going to get a talking to by his editor for not following the style guide when writing this story.

3 posted on 12/06/2017 10:33:43 PM PST by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit.L)
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To: Pontiac

The corruption. The corruption. One wonders if the universe is listening.


4 posted on 12/06/2017 10:41:21 PM PST by FreeperCell
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To: FreeperCell
Let’s hope not.

There is a three mile wide asteroid out there making a close pass by Earth as we speak.

5 posted on 12/06/2017 11:03:52 PM PST by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit.L)
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To: Nateman

Benford’s Law.


6 posted on 12/07/2017 7:18:36 AM PST by generally ( Don't be stupid. We have politicians for that.)
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To: Pontiac

Note where the info is in the article

Most readers who get past a headline don’t read more than a couple of paragraphs in.

NBC buried the lead.


7 posted on 12/07/2017 7:20:16 AM PST by mewzilla (Was Obama surveilling John Roberts? Might explain a lot.)
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To: Pontiac

Without knowing the details, the fact that he is also involved with Melendez tells me he should get life without parole.

100 million? What if it’s only 50 million? Does that make it ok? Massive fraud is massive fraud.

Lock him up. Maybe we can save room by putting Menendez in the same cell. Hillary’s next.


8 posted on 12/07/2017 7:21:14 AM PST by generally ( Don't be stupid. We have politicians for that.)
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To: generally
Benford’s Law.

Yep. A great way to see if numbers picked are really random or not. (Unless the fellow doing the fraud is aware of this law)

9 posted on 12/07/2017 7:33:07 AM PST by Nateman (The louder the left screams , the better it is for America!)
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To: nickcarraway

10 posted on 12/07/2017 7:36:25 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: nickcarraway

They need a new editor. The headline doesn’t match the story. Medicare != Medicaid

Medicaid fraud is rampant.


11 posted on 12/07/2017 7:38:39 AM PST by AppyPappy (Don't mistake your dorm political discussions with the desires of the nation)
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