NSA Supports Elder Justice Legislation
The National Sheriffs’ Association has expressed our support for legislation aimed at protecting the nation’s elderly population: the National Silver Alert Act of 2009 (S557/HR 632) and the Elder Abuse Victims Act of 2009 (S1821). Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI) introduced S557 and S1821 in the Senate. Rep. Lloyd Dogget (D-TX) introduced HR632 in the House.
The National Silver Alert Act would encourage, enhance, and integrate Silver Alert (a system used to locate missing adults specifically those with dementia or Alzheimer’s) plans throughout the United States, as well as authorize grants to organizations to find missing adults.
The Elder Abuse Victims Act works to protect seniors in the United States from elder abuse by establishing specialized elder abuse prosecution and research programs and activities to aid victims of elder abuse; to provide training to prosecutors and other law enforcement related to elder abuse prevention and protection; and to establish programs that provide for emergency crisis response teams to combat elder abuse.
NSA looks forward to working with Sen. Kohl and Rep. Doggett to pass these important bills during the 111th Congress.
Law Enforcement Initiatives among NHTSA State Teams
Our mission is to increase transportation options for older adults and enhance their ability to live more independently within their communities throughout the United States. All of the teams selected for the older driver safety coalition project were required to include a member from state law enforcement, and four of the six teams incorporated some form of outreach or education specific to law enforcement in their project activities.
Each participating state developed plans of what to address and how to address it. These are brief summaries of what was done. The following presents some highlights of the teams’ efforts in this area:
http://seniortransportation.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=NCST2_about_projects_nhtsa_law_enforcement
Medicare beneficiaries across the country will be receiving copies of a brochure “Medicare and the New Health Law – What it Means for You” in their mailboxes. The mailing from CMS outlines key provisions of the Affordable Care Act for people with Medicare as well as members of their families. The mailing is being sent in both English and Spanish.
Because Medicare is a trusted resource for beneficiaries and their family members, the mailing encourages them to log on to www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE to get their questions about Medicare or the Affordable Care Act answered and reminds them to be on the alert for possible scams.
The first benefit that many people with Medicare will receive as a result of the passage of the new law is a one-time check for $250, if they enter the Part D donut hole and are not eligible for Medicare Extra Help. Beginning next year, the Affordable Care Act ensures that Medicare beneficiaries will get free preventive care services like colorectal cancer screening and mammograms, in addition to a free annual wellness visit. The law also includes new tools to help fight fraud by helping Medicare crack down on criminals who are seeking to scam seniors and steal taxpayer dollars.
The brochures can be found at: http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11467.pdf (English) and http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11467_S.pdf (Spanish)
Illinois State Triad Conference
http://www.ipha.com/tabs/events/eventdetails.aspx?EventId=101
I would cordially like to invite you to participate in the 14th Annual Illinois TRIAD Conference in conjunction with the Illinois Department on Aging’s 24th Annual Elder Rights Conference. This year’s conference will be the first of its kind to be a collaboration between two entities; law enforcement and aging. The joint conference has much to offer attendees that are concerned with one of the fastest growing populations, our senior citizens. The conference will explore the roles that law enforcement and aging take place when addressing the needs of a senior citizen.
The joint conference will highlight coalition programs as well as new initiatives for your TRIAD, SALT Council and local community police programs. The joint conference affords the opportunity for aging and law enforcement to come together to provide direct and/or indirect services to senior citizens, so that they maintain their dignity, respect, independence and personal safety. Many national speakers will be on hand discussing topics that have important implications for the senior citizen population, that agencies might have never dealt with before or how local Triads can become advocates for victims of elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation.
Jeff Hoffmann
Lieutenant
Bureau of Patrol Administration
PRESCRIPTION DRUG TURN-IN DAY A MAJOR SUCCESS. FINAL TALLY EXPECTED TO REACH TWO TONS OF DRUGS!
(Portland, OR) The statewide Prescription Drug Turn-In Day last Saturday is being called a rousing success by organizers as a result of record amounts of prescription drugs collected at some thirty sites.
Although the amount of drugs being disposed of continues to be tallied, organizers believe that about two tons of pills, tablets, and other drugs have been turned in.
The event was coordinated by the Oregon Medical Association Alliance, Community Action to Reduce Substance Abuse (CARSA) and Oregon Partnership. “Thanks to community involvement throughout
the state, the event was more successful than we ever thought it would be,” said Leanna Lindquist, President of the Oregon Medical Association Alliance. “Prescription drug abuse and the safe disposal of unused drugs are increasingly on the radar of Oregonians.”
Some sites received a steady stream of participants during the day. And the drugs collected ran the gamut - from a prescription dated 1936 to liquid morphine. At the Portland site, almost 3,000 tablets of controlled substance medication were turned in with an estimated street value of $57,000. In Hillsboro, 882 bottles of prescription drugs and 489 bottles on non-prescription drugs were collected. While individual communities have sponsored similar turn-in events, this was the first statewide effort of its kind, hoping to attract thousands of people and increase awareness about the disposal of potentially dangerous and addictive drugs.
The US Geological Survey and Oregon DEQ water quality samplings have found trace amounts of pharmaceuticals in Oregon’s surface water, and focused studies have found pharmaceuticals in groundwater. Flushing unwanted drugs down the toilet - - at households, hospice and palliative care providers and long term care facilities - - are one way drugs reach wastewater treatment plants.
Today, the average American takes more than 12 different prescription drugs each year - - more than 3.8 billion prescriptions purchased annually, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. One recent survey estimated the amount of wasted drugs is as high as 45 percent.
Oregon ranks among the top states for non-medical use of pain relievers among 12-17 year olds. Teens say prescription drugs are widely available from an array of sources, including their homes, friends and relatives.
Locking your meds is a household strategy that is gaining more popularity, as parents realize that most teens who abuse prescription drugs acquire them from medicine cabinets at the homes of parents, relatives, or friends.
Young people often perceive prescription drugs to be safer than illicit drugs to get high, leading them to casually share these drugs with friends. These include painkillers (OxyContin), depressants (Xanax) and stimulants (Adderall and Ritalin). More teens abuse prescription drugs than cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine combined. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), prescription drug abuse is higher among 18-25 year olds than in any other age group.
Although the use of tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs among youth has declined from 2002 through 2008, over this time many teens have turned to misusing prescription drugs, according to SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health. In fact, prescription drugs are misused more by this age group than any illicit drug, except marijuana. The nonmedical use of these medicines—the same drugs used to legitimately relieve pain, and treat conditions like anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, or ADHD in some people—is a growing and under-recognized problem that puts young lives at risk.
TRIAD hosts Health Fair for Seniors
Several agencies participate in event at Sawmill Square Mall
By David Owens, newseditor@laurelleadercall.com Laurel Leader-Call
LAUREL — The Laurel/Jones County TRIAD/S.A.L.T. Council hosted a “Senior Safety Health Fair” Tuesday at Sawmill Square Mall.
The event attracted a number of the area’s senior citizens, providing them information on home health care, personal protection and other safety tips.
A number of agencies participated in the day including the Jones County Sheriff’s Department and District Attorney’s Office, South Central Regional Medical Center, the City of Laurel, American Red Cross, AARP and the Mississippi State University Extension Service.
Wayne Parker, director of the Mississippi Leadership Council on Aging, which provides the grant for TRIAD, said the event is beneficial in spreading the safety message.
“TRIAD was created as a way to sit down and determine the best way of providing senior citizens the services they need,” he said. “It was first formed in Mississippi in 1996, but the national organization has been around since 1988.”
Parker said the organization helps bring together senior citizens, law enforcement and organizations that work with seniors such as AARP and the Department of Human Services.
“It’s an education program for crime prevention and fire safety,” he said. “It teaches them how not to be a victim.”
The Jones County TRIAD is a volunteer organization that includes the Jones County Sheriff’s Department, Laurel, Ellisville, Sandersville and Soso Police Departments, AARP, RTA (Retired Teachers Association), RSVP (Retired & Senior Volunteer Program) and other groups working for or with seniors. The SALT Council, which co-sponsored Tuesday’s event, stands for Seniors and Lawmen Together.
Fight to Prevent Medicare Fraud Turns Violent
Federal Investigators at War with Gangs That Bilk Billions from Taxpayers
By PIERRE THOMAS
Gangs across the country are arming themselves with powerful weapons to bilk taxpayers out of billions of dollars through Medicare fraud. What used to be a mostly non-violent, white collar crime has turned potentially deadly, and Federal agents who once combed through paperwork are now firing rounds at the shooting range to prepare for extreme dangers.
"Our folks are out there engaging a criminal element that is dangerous," said Jay Hodes, an agent with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
For more on this story, watch Pierre Thomas' report tonight on 'World News with Diane Sawyer' on ABC.
Medicare fraud has become very big business for gangs, members of the Mafia and other thugs. One estimate suggests that criminals steal some $60 billion from the federal government via healthcare fraud every year.
They commit the fraud by recruiting people with clean records who then apply for Medicare vendor licenses. Websites walk them through the process, step-by-step.
"It's so easy to steal from Medicare and Medicaid, it attracts a violent criminal element so they can cash in on their schemes," said Tim Menke, the chief of investigations for the HHS Office of the Inspector General.
Schemes include setting up phony medical equipment companies which then rip off taxpayers by billing for services never rendered and equipment never actually delivered.
Criminals Make Death Threats, With Millions at Stake
Many of the criminals are armed to the teeth to enforce their authority. Undercover surveillance footage shows members of an Armenian gang in Los Angeles as they confront an accomplice suspected of skimming their profits in a $30 million Medicare fraud scheme. The gang members threatened to kill the man.
"You and me, we're going to have a war tonight," said a man on the tape. "Two hundred thousand [expletive] dollars, it really matters."
"We are seeing a variety of different groups who are attracted to healthcare fraud," said Menke. "In California, we see Armenians. In Texas we see Nigerians. In Florida, Cubans. And in the Northeast we'll see Ukranians and Russians."
Medicare Fraud Turns Violent: Criminals Armed to the Teeth
According to the government, the groups across the country will beat or threaten witnesses to prevent them from testifying against them. They don't hesitate to bribe or threaten patients in order to get them to submit false claims, and they back up those threats with paramilitary-style high powered weapons, including 50 caliber sniper rifles. At one so-called medical equipment company in Dallas, a huge weapons cache was discovered with approximately 60 assault weapons.
As part of one investigation into a Medicare fraud case, a search of a doctor's property in the Northeast turned up explosives and landmines, and authorities have seized dozens of rifles and handguns in San Francisco from a facility operated by a gun runner who worked with a Mexican cartel.
The exotic weapons that Health and Human Services investigators have collected look like something out of a Hollywood blockbuster -- pistols that shoot like machine guns and other special equipment. Medicare fraud has turned into an arms race.
"When we start coming across silencers and body armor, that tells us the criminals are playing for keeps," said Menke.
Federal Government Promises to Crack Down on Fraud
Health and Human Services officials promise they're also working to stop the problem before it starts by cutting down on fraudulent applications.
"These are hard core crooks, and we got to do something about this," said Peter Budetti, the Deputy Administrator for Program Integrity, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. "18,000 new applications come into the Medicare program every month and we are realizing that far too many of them are criminal elements and fraudsters."
Budetti said that his agency is working to improve the vetting process by visiting sites to make that businesses are real.
"For the new people, we look to see if they have been in business before," he said. "Who are the owners? Do they have a history of working with Medicare and actually providing any supplies to Medicare beneficiaries?"
Budetti claims in the first year these new measure were put in place, 16,000 companies were dropped from the program.
But despite that, the fact remains that medicare fraud is so wide and deep, taxpayers are still being scammed out of billions of dollars right now.
Copyright © 2010 ABC News Internet Ventures
Gillette helps AG extend program statewide
BY ASHLEY PHILLIPS • Gazette Staff Writer •
Since retiring from the Ross County Sheriff's Office after almost 30 years of service, former deputy Dale Gilette has kept himself busy.
For the past seven months, Gilette has been working with the state attorney general's office as a TRIAD coordinator for the state following his successes with the program locally. "Mr. (Attorney General Richard) Cordray saw the work I did in Ross County organizing the TRIAD and asked me to work with law enforcement around the state to have one in their counties, as well," he said.
TRIAD is a program involving law enforcement, senior citizens and community groups working together to stop crime.
After his Ross County successes, Gilette has been working with sheriffs in Pickaway and Pike counties in an effort to organize TRIAD organizations there, as well. "I'm setting up some framework for sheriffs and police chiefs to organize a TRIAD in their areas," he said.
Crime prevention isn't just about physical safety, Gilette said. It also is the key to saving residents money on investigation expenses and court hearings. "We are trying to improve the quality of life for our seniors," he said. Cordray wants a statewide TRIAD formed and sought
Gilette to help him in his mission. "We are not trying to take over in the counties. We are simply going to assist and help them build a TRIAD," Gilette said.
Working as a Ross County TRIAD coordinator for the past 11 years, he said he wanted to continue the work because he believes in senior safety. It also is a program that costs relatively little to operate. "TRIADS are usually run by volunteers and rely little on funding, if any at all," he said. The target of TRIAD organizations is stopping elderly exploitation, theft and abuse.
Fax Fraud Fuels ID Theft
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller warns Hoosier business owners of a recurring identity theft tactic sent by fax. Faxed letters appearing on United States Department of Transportation (DOT) letterhead are adeptly hidden as an identity theft maneuver, asking for “authorization to release financial information.” The DOT would not ask this.
The letter states it is from the Procurement Office in Washington D.C. and signed by a bogus senior procurement officer. Recurring signatures are: - “Dan Jacobs”
- “Lisa Johnson”
- “Jason Scarlett”
- “Julie P. Wenzel”
- “Bradley K. Walsh”
- “Jeffery Steinberg”
and most recently, “Julie P. Weynel”
DO NOT complete the release form asking for your banking information that is attached to the faxed letter. Please Click here to view an example of a letter sent to contracting personnel.
If you received a scam fax of this nature, please report it to the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division by submitting a complaint online.
The Go Direct® Campaign Prepares for Hurricane Season
A recent report from the Colorado State University hurricane research team predicted that the Atlantic hurricane season will be stronger this year than it has been recently. The leading researchers anticipate an above-average eight hurricanes this year, four of them major, posing a threat to the U.S. coastline.
As part of National Hurricane Preparedness Week May 23-29, the U.S. Department of the Treasury strongly urges federal benefit check recipients living along the Gulf Coast and Eastern Seaboard to disaster-proof their money by switching from paper checks to electronic payments.
According to Treasury Department research, eight in 10 Americans say direct deposit is more reliable in the event of a disaster. Yet about 10.5 million senior citizens, people with disabilities and others who receive federal benefit payments still rely on paper checks for their monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. What's more, approximately 2.7 million Social Security and SSI checks are sent to people living in hurricane-prone states each month.
In advance of Hurricane Preparedness Week, consider sharing information about the benefits of electronic payments with the people you serve. The Disaster Preparedness Tool Kit includes newsletter copy, web banners and talking points to help you spread the word about safeguarding federal benefit payments.
Triad Pioneer Remembered
Laura E. McNair served as a faithful and dedicated employee of the Hinds County Human Resource Agency and set precedents in a number of capacities and positions for over 44 years. She began her services to the Agency as a supervisor of the Multi-purpose Center in 1964. She helped establish the Agency’s Edwards Neighborhood Services Center in 1966. In 1970, Ms. McNair was named Center Supervisor of the Shady Grove Neighborhood Service Center where she was the first point of contact for programs and services designed to help fulfill the Hinds County Human Resources Agency’s motto of “Helping families, Strengthening Communities”. Mrs. McNair organized the Shady Grove TRIAD Group which now has over forty
Active members. Her own personal creed was “For the people”. Everything she did was “For the people”. When the TRIAD group was checking on the homebound, taking food to the shut in, sponsoring a pot luck lunch, it was always “for the people”. This TRIAD thrived under her direction. In fact, it is the only “officially” recognized TRIAD in Hinds County Mississippi.
On May 30, 2008, Mrs. Laura McNair officially retired as an employee of the Hinds County Human Resources Agency after forty-four years of outstanding and dedicated services to the citizen of Hinds County. On September 19, 2008, Kenn Cockrell, President & CEO of HCHRA renamed the Shady Grove Neighborhood Services Center to the Laura E. McNair-Shady Grove Neighborhood Services Center in a tribute to Mrs. McNair prodigious contributions and faithful service to the people of Hinds County.
On February 16, 2010 Mrs. Laura E. McNair passed away. Mrs. McNair will be sorely missed and fondly remembered by those who knew her and those who came to know her through the many services she render to them over years. Because of the beliefs and faith of Laura McNair, the TRIAD is thriving. The group is becoming instrumental in spreading the word to other Senior Centers. Because of her, Hinds County is looking forward to establishing at least three new “official” TRIADs!
New Tools for Detecting and Prosecuting Elder Abuse
In the past, law enforcement officers had a tough time evaluating possible cases of elder abuse. Stereotypes about older people abounded. They fall a lot and bruise easily, so how can anyone tell if they have been harmed? They have memory problems and would be unable to testify in court. NIJ forensic studies are now helping law enforcement teams to win convictions of criminals who abuse elders. The latest issue of the NIJ Journal includes a package of stories about detecting and prosecuting elder abuse.
Free registration with NCJRS keeps you informed about new publications, grant and funding opportunities, and other news and announcements. To register, visit: http://www.ncjrs.gov/subreg.html
| |
