The firm AmMed Direct has to pay $18 million for wrongly billing Medicare for diabetes supplies as well as other products. The US government will get $17.6 million while Tennessee will get $439,003 as part of the civil settlement. The U. S. Attorney’s Office revealed this last Friday. The whistle blower will get $2.8 million payment.
AmMed Direct, based in Nashville, apparently ran a marketing scheme from 2008 to early 2010. It advertised free cookbooks with no mention of diabetic supplies. This made Medicare customers call the company. Once AmMed found out that the caller for the free cookbook is covered by Medicare, they tried to sell the caller supplies. To make it worse, Medicare was improperly billed for the supplies.
Money from the returned diabetic supplies was not refunded to Medicare although just before it learned of the federal and state inquiry, AmMed informed Medicare that it failed to refund the funds for returned merchandise. It then started to pay refunds to Medicare and TennCare.
Bryan McNeese, the whistle-blower, will get $2.8 million under provisions of the federal False Claims Act. Offering free cookbooks when they were really selling diabetic supplies is a marketing ploy that will not be tolerated. Not only are they targeting the vulnerable but also I hate it when some play around with the health care system.
No wonder some cannot be covered by Medicare when the money that should go to the rightful people who need and deserve it are spent for fraudulent purposes. I hope many more will be found out as I heard that for every one closed by the government, another one takes it place and opens for business.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Diabetic Supply Company Penalized
The firm AmMed Direct has to pay $18 million for wrongly billing Medicare for diabetes supplies as well as other products. The US government will get $17.6 million while Tennessee will get $439,003 as part of the civil settlement. The U. S. Attorney’s Office revealed this last Friday. The whistle blower will get $2.8 million payment.
AmMed Direct, based in Nashville, apparently ran a marketing scheme from 2008 to early 2010. It advertised free cookbooks with no mention of diabetic supplies. This made Medicare customers call the company. Once AmMed found out that the caller for the free cookbook is covered by Medicare, they tried to sell the caller supplies. To make it worse, Medicare was improperly billed for the supplies.
Money from the returned diabetic supplies was not refunded to Medicare although just before it learned of the federal and state inquiry, AmMed informed Medicare that it failed to refund the funds for returned merchandise. It then started to pay refunds to Medicare and TennCare.
Bryan McNeese, the whistle-blower, will get $2.8 million under provisions of the federal False Claims Act. Offering free cookbooks when they were really selling diabetic supplies is a marketing ploy that will not be tolerated. Not only are they targeting the vulnerable but also I hate it when some play around with the health care system.
No wonder some cannot be covered by Medicare when the money that should go to the rightful people who need and deserve it are spent for fraudulent purposes. I hope many more will be found out as I heard that for every one closed by the government, another one takes it place and opens for business.
AmMed Direct, based in Nashville, apparently ran a marketing scheme from 2008 to early 2010. It advertised free cookbooks with no mention of diabetic supplies. This made Medicare customers call the company. Once AmMed found out that the caller for the free cookbook is covered by Medicare, they tried to sell the caller supplies. To make it worse, Medicare was improperly billed for the supplies.
Money from the returned diabetic supplies was not refunded to Medicare although just before it learned of the federal and state inquiry, AmMed informed Medicare that it failed to refund the funds for returned merchandise. It then started to pay refunds to Medicare and TennCare.
Bryan McNeese, the whistle-blower, will get $2.8 million under provisions of the federal False Claims Act. Offering free cookbooks when they were really selling diabetic supplies is a marketing ploy that will not be tolerated. Not only are they targeting the vulnerable but also I hate it when some play around with the health care system.
No wonder some cannot be covered by Medicare when the money that should go to the rightful people who need and deserve it are spent for fraudulent purposes. I hope many more will be found out as I heard that for every one closed by the government, another one takes it place and opens for business.
Diabetic Supply Company Penalized
The firm AmMed Direct has to pay $18 million for wrongly billing Medicare for diabetes supplies as well as other products. The US government will get $17.6 million while Tennessee will get $439,003 as part of the civil settlement. The U. S. Attorney’s Office revealed this last Friday. The whistle blower will get $2.8 million payment.
AmMed Direct, based in Nashville, apparently ran a marketing scheme from 2008 to early 2010. It advertised free cookbooks with no mention of diabetic supplies. This made Medicare customers call the company. Once AmMed found out that the caller for the free cookbook is covered by Medicare, they tried to sell the caller supplies. To make it worse, Medicare was improperly billed for the supplies.
Money from the returned diabetic supplies was not refunded to Medicare although just before it learned of the federal and state inquiry, AmMed informed Medicare that it failed to refund the funds for returned merchandise. It then started to pay refunds to Medicare and TennCare.
Bryan McNeese, the whistle-blower, will get $2.8 million under provisions of the federal False Claims Act. Offering free cookbooks when they were really selling diabetic supplies is a marketing ploy that will not be tolerated. Not only are they targeting the vulnerable but also I hate it when some play around with the health care system.
No wonder some cannot be covered by Medicare when the money that should go to the rightful people who need and deserve it are spent for fraudulent purposes. I hope many more will be found out as I heard that for every one closed by the government, another one takes it place and opens for business.
AmMed Direct, based in Nashville, apparently ran a marketing scheme from 2008 to early 2010. It advertised free cookbooks with no mention of diabetic supplies. This made Medicare customers call the company. Once AmMed found out that the caller for the free cookbook is covered by Medicare, they tried to sell the caller supplies. To make it worse, Medicare was improperly billed for the supplies.
Money from the returned diabetic supplies was not refunded to Medicare although just before it learned of the federal and state inquiry, AmMed informed Medicare that it failed to refund the funds for returned merchandise. It then started to pay refunds to Medicare and TennCare.
Bryan McNeese, the whistle-blower, will get $2.8 million under provisions of the federal False Claims Act. Offering free cookbooks when they were really selling diabetic supplies is a marketing ploy that will not be tolerated. Not only are they targeting the vulnerable but also I hate it when some play around with the health care system.
No wonder some cannot be covered by Medicare when the money that should go to the rightful people who need and deserve it are spent for fraudulent purposes. I hope many more will be found out as I heard that for every one closed by the government, another one takes it place and opens for business.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
How To Easily Manage Diabetes
The statistics are alarming. It seems like everyone has diabetes or knows someone suffering from diabetes. In Florida alone, one of every ten has diabetes. That means 1.5 million people in Florida have diabetes making the state the tenth in the country as to the number of people struggling with this condition.
With these many people afflicted, a lot are having a hard time on managing diabetes. The trouble is that managing this condition is fundamental to keeping healthy and avoiding the many complications that could arise from it. Of course it is not easy but it can be done. Here are some tips:
1. Get a diabetes meal plan from the health care team and follow it. Eating healthy is important and this means plenty of fruits and vegetables with lots of fibre, less salt and fat and lean meat or fish which should be no more than three ounces.
2. Monitor the blood sugar by testing it at least once a day and keep a record of this. Sometimes you have to test more if you want to check how the food you eat affects your blood sugar level. Obtain from the doctor what your target level is so you can keep maintaining that level.
3. Get routine care at least twice a year and bring your record of the blood sugar level monitoring results to show the doctor. Together you will be able to decide what changes in the management of diabetes to make sure you are on the right track. Get the feet and eyes examined too.
4. Exercise about 60 minutes a day at least five times a week. Ask the doctor what kind of exercise you should do or tell him if the form of exercise you have in mind is safe for you to do. Walking around the block is a good thing to do.
5. Manage whatever stress you have with the use of the mental health resources. This is important because stress can make the blood glucose level higher. Exercise will certainly help de-stress. I do tai-chi and that seems to help. Having pets have done wonder for other people.
There you have the five things you absolutely have to do to make managing the diabetes easier. Those tips do make it easier to manage diabetes, don’t they? Remember to get in touch with your health care team regularly and ask for help. You don’t have to do everything all at once. Just make changes to the lifestyle to make you healthy and keep the blood sugar within the target level.
With these many people afflicted, a lot are having a hard time on managing diabetes. The trouble is that managing this condition is fundamental to keeping healthy and avoiding the many complications that could arise from it. Of course it is not easy but it can be done. Here are some tips:
1. Get a diabetes meal plan from the health care team and follow it. Eating healthy is important and this means plenty of fruits and vegetables with lots of fibre, less salt and fat and lean meat or fish which should be no more than three ounces.
2. Monitor the blood sugar by testing it at least once a day and keep a record of this. Sometimes you have to test more if you want to check how the food you eat affects your blood sugar level. Obtain from the doctor what your target level is so you can keep maintaining that level.
3. Get routine care at least twice a year and bring your record of the blood sugar level monitoring results to show the doctor. Together you will be able to decide what changes in the management of diabetes to make sure you are on the right track. Get the feet and eyes examined too.
4. Exercise about 60 minutes a day at least five times a week. Ask the doctor what kind of exercise you should do or tell him if the form of exercise you have in mind is safe for you to do. Walking around the block is a good thing to do.
5. Manage whatever stress you have with the use of the mental health resources. This is important because stress can make the blood glucose level higher. Exercise will certainly help de-stress. I do tai-chi and that seems to help. Having pets have done wonder for other people.
There you have the five things you absolutely have to do to make managing the diabetes easier. Those tips do make it easier to manage diabetes, don’t they? Remember to get in touch with your health care team regularly and ask for help. You don’t have to do everything all at once. Just make changes to the lifestyle to make you healthy and keep the blood sugar within the target level.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Say ‘Not Me' to Diabetes
Say no to diabetes! What is your motivation to say no to diabetes? Do you want to live better and feel better? Do you want to live to stay with your loved one for a long, long time? Then you have enough motivation to say no to diabetes. Tell diabetes to go away for you will do all you can to prevent it. And if you already have it, then you are motivated enough to reverse it.
Since obesity is linked to diabetes and that almost one of every three of us is considered obese, it follows then that our first line of defence is to maintain our ideal weight. What two things can help us do this? You’re right! It’s eat healthy and move more. But all these may sound simple but actually it is not easy to follow. Why?
Here is why. There are three sides to losing weight. One side is to eat less and the calories from this comes into our body. The second side is to exercise that will burn the calories that we put in from all the eating we did. The third side is what gives us trouble. It is behavioural modification. It takes a lot of will power and determination to stay away from the buffet table. I know that from experience.
Knowing all these should not deter us though from trying hard. Remember our motivation? We want to feel better. We want to look better. We want to see our children grow up. Let us keep repeating the things that motivate us. Remember, there is no hard and fast rule. We want to eat less but not starve ourselves.
********************************************************************************
Please visit our sponsor:
Get all the answers from a source you can trust! The proven strategies, recipes and advice in thebiggest-selling diabetes guide of the decadegive you everything you need to fully take control. You’ ll know how to overcome “diabetes burnout”... recover quickly on sick days... choose the best glucose monitor... lose weight easily... and totally minimize the impact it has on your health and your quality of life. A must-have resource for everyone concerned with diabetes!
Stopping Diabetes in its Tracks: The Definitive Take-Charge Guide
*******************************************************************************
If we put up a notice on our bulletin board or on the fridge that having diabetes increases the risk to develop heart disease, kidney failure, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, amputation and blindness, wouldn’t that encourage us to eat less and move more? Of course it would. Oh I know we would have setbacks sometimes. Well, in that case, we will just get up and start all over again. It is still better than not trying.
So, if we do not have diabetes yet or just at risk or already have type 2 diabetes, we will adamantly say no to diabetes. Oh no not me, and then follow that up with taking action to prevent or delay its coming or reverse it if it has already taken hold of us. Anyway just losing 5 to 10% of body weight will not only lower the diabetes risk sometimes by half or prevent or reverse it but also it will protect us from a lot of health problems.
So what is the key to watch for? Watch the weight, blood sugar level, cholesterol and blood pressure. And what is the best way to do it? Combine physical activity with healthy eating of whole grains, fruits and vegetables, low fat or non fat dairy products and lean protein. But make sure you have a support system in place to cheer you on through ups and downs. I will be one member of your support team and I will say a prayer for you to succeed. Yay!! We say no to diabetes, no not me, so there!
Since obesity is linked to diabetes and that almost one of every three of us is considered obese, it follows then that our first line of defence is to maintain our ideal weight. What two things can help us do this? You’re right! It’s eat healthy and move more. But all these may sound simple but actually it is not easy to follow. Why?
Here is why. There are three sides to losing weight. One side is to eat less and the calories from this comes into our body. The second side is to exercise that will burn the calories that we put in from all the eating we did. The third side is what gives us trouble. It is behavioural modification. It takes a lot of will power and determination to stay away from the buffet table. I know that from experience.
Knowing all these should not deter us though from trying hard. Remember our motivation? We want to feel better. We want to look better. We want to see our children grow up. Let us keep repeating the things that motivate us. Remember, there is no hard and fast rule. We want to eat less but not starve ourselves.
********************************************************************************
Please visit our sponsor:
Get all the answers from a source you can trust! The proven strategies, recipes and advice in thebiggest-selling diabetes guide of the decadegive you everything you need to fully take control. You’ ll know how to overcome “diabetes burnout”... recover quickly on sick days... choose the best glucose monitor... lose weight easily... and totally minimize the impact it has on your health and your quality of life. A must-have resource for everyone concerned with diabetes!
Stopping Diabetes in its Tracks: The Definitive Take-Charge Guide
*******************************************************************************
If we put up a notice on our bulletin board or on the fridge that having diabetes increases the risk to develop heart disease, kidney failure, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, amputation and blindness, wouldn’t that encourage us to eat less and move more? Of course it would. Oh I know we would have setbacks sometimes. Well, in that case, we will just get up and start all over again. It is still better than not trying.
So, if we do not have diabetes yet or just at risk or already have type 2 diabetes, we will adamantly say no to diabetes. Oh no not me, and then follow that up with taking action to prevent or delay its coming or reverse it if it has already taken hold of us. Anyway just losing 5 to 10% of body weight will not only lower the diabetes risk sometimes by half or prevent or reverse it but also it will protect us from a lot of health problems.
So what is the key to watch for? Watch the weight, blood sugar level, cholesterol and blood pressure. And what is the best way to do it? Combine physical activity with healthy eating of whole grains, fruits and vegetables, low fat or non fat dairy products and lean protein. But make sure you have a support system in place to cheer you on through ups and downs. I will be one member of your support team and I will say a prayer for you to succeed. Yay!! We say no to diabetes, no not me, so there!
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Poor Sleep In Teens With Diabetes Linked With Bad Behaviour, Uncontrolled Blood Sugar
Sleep and diabetes is the topic in a study that says quality sleep is important for teens and kids or run the risk of getting linked to bad behaviour and uncontrolled blood sugar control. Kids and teens who suffer from diabetes may have trouble getting a good night sleep and this could be linked with school performance, the blood sugar control and their behaviour.
Mind you, the study found the lack of quality sleep could be the result of sleep abnormalities like sleepiness during the day and Scroll down to see Sleep Apnea.
Regardless, all these makes it hard to maintain good blood sugar control. So did University of Arizona’s Michelle Perfect, PhD and study researcher say.
This is how the researchers came to the conclusion that poor sleep is linked with uncontrolled blood sugar and bad behaviour. They studied the quality of sleep of 50 teens and kids with type 1 diabetes as well as the sleep patterns of the controlled groups who are not diabetic.
The researchers found that the diabetic kids had lighter sleep for longer time than the non diabetic group and so they showed signs of higher blood sugar levels. In addition, their performance on standardized tests were poorer and so their grades were lower. They also exhibited behaviour abnormalities. Of course, this led to a poor quality of life.
The researchers also found that one-third of the participants had sleep apnea even when they did not consider obesity. This has been previously linked with type 2 diabetes. Previous studies found that lack of adequate sleep among obese teens could raise the risk for developing diabetes.
Here if you scroll down you may find the
personalized pillows that may help you sleep.
Consider these. The researchers at Philadelphia’s Children’s Hospital found that blood sugar levels are more stable with 7 ½ to 8 ½ hours of sleep per night while Ottawa Sun reported that sleeping less or more was associated with higher blood sugar levels. Georgia State University’s associate professor, Michael Decker, PhD who is also a spokesman for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine has a slide show on five things that could keep one from sleeping well thus linking sleep and diabetes.
Mind you, the study found the lack of quality sleep could be the result of sleep abnormalities like sleepiness during the day and Scroll down to see Sleep Apnea.
Regardless, all these makes it hard to maintain good blood sugar control. So did University of Arizona’s Michelle Perfect, PhD and study researcher say.
This is how the researchers came to the conclusion that poor sleep is linked with uncontrolled blood sugar and bad behaviour. They studied the quality of sleep of 50 teens and kids with type 1 diabetes as well as the sleep patterns of the controlled groups who are not diabetic.
The researchers found that the diabetic kids had lighter sleep for longer time than the non diabetic group and so they showed signs of higher blood sugar levels. In addition, their performance on standardized tests were poorer and so their grades were lower. They also exhibited behaviour abnormalities. Of course, this led to a poor quality of life.
The researchers also found that one-third of the participants had sleep apnea even when they did not consider obesity. This has been previously linked with type 2 diabetes. Previous studies found that lack of adequate sleep among obese teens could raise the risk for developing diabetes.
Here if you scroll down you may find the
personalized pillows that may help you sleep.
Consider these. The researchers at Philadelphia’s Children’s Hospital found that blood sugar levels are more stable with 7 ½ to 8 ½ hours of sleep per night while Ottawa Sun reported that sleeping less or more was associated with higher blood sugar levels. Georgia State University’s associate professor, Michael Decker, PhD who is also a spokesman for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine has a slide show on five things that could keep one from sleeping well thus linking sleep and diabetes.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Diabetes and Hip Fracture Risk
Diabetes can make one at risk of getting a fracture to the hips. All the tempting food on the table does not make it any easier. We are still eating too much. And this can make us vulnerable to broken hip. Women who are undergoing menopause with uncontrolled blood sugar are more liable to develop a broken hip.
So researchers investigated the tool created by the World Health Organization known as the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool or FRAX. This tool makes use of algorithms found on a person’s risk to develop hip fracture along with the result of the bone density exam.
FRAX was developed by WHO in order to find what bone fracture to expect to help the doctors make a prediction on a person’s likelihood of breaking his hip or fracturing the shoulder, spine and forearm as a result of osteoporosis.
For menopausal women though, especially if they are not on HRT, the doctors are now using FRAX to access their risk to develop a hip fracture. But researchers in Canada’s University of Waterloo in Ontario begged to disagree. They found out in their new study that the most widely used tool FRAX is not that accurate.
FRAX, the researchers said, miscalculates the risk of a woman in getting her hip fractured and it is even worse if diabetes is in the picture. You see, the diabetics are found to have a 59% increased chance of getting a fractured hip and the worst part of the finding was that they were less likely to take medication in order to lower the risk or prevent it from happening.
The result of the study conducted in Netherlands is even scarier. Apparently, diabetic women who have an increased likelihood to develop fractured hip increased their risk even more when their blood sugar is poorly controlled.
There are three things they need to know. They should get a bone density test at age 50 to determine the likelihood of getting a fractured bone. Secondly if their doctor uses FRAX, their risk even gets higher, And third, it is important to keep the blood sugar under control.
So researchers investigated the tool created by the World Health Organization known as the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool or FRAX. This tool makes use of algorithms found on a person’s risk to develop hip fracture along with the result of the bone density exam.
FRAX was developed by WHO in order to find what bone fracture to expect to help the doctors make a prediction on a person’s likelihood of breaking his hip or fracturing the shoulder, spine and forearm as a result of osteoporosis.
For menopausal women though, especially if they are not on HRT, the doctors are now using FRAX to access their risk to develop a hip fracture. But researchers in Canada’s University of Waterloo in Ontario begged to disagree. They found out in their new study that the most widely used tool FRAX is not that accurate.
FRAX, the researchers said, miscalculates the risk of a woman in getting her hip fractured and it is even worse if diabetes is in the picture. You see, the diabetics are found to have a 59% increased chance of getting a fractured hip and the worst part of the finding was that they were less likely to take medication in order to lower the risk or prevent it from happening.
The result of the study conducted in Netherlands is even scarier. Apparently, diabetic women who have an increased likelihood to develop fractured hip increased their risk even more when their blood sugar is poorly controlled.
There are three things they need to know. They should get a bone density test at age 50 to determine the likelihood of getting a fractured bone. Secondly if their doctor uses FRAX, their risk even gets higher, And third, it is important to keep the blood sugar under control.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)