December 29, 2016

CVS fires back at Texas regulators in $30 million Medicaid fraud case

CVS Pharmacy, accused by the state of Texas of defrauding Medicaid of $30.5 million, is suing the state Health and Human Services Commission, claiming state officials approved the billing practices at the heart of the fraud case, court records show.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in state District Court, echoes complaints made by dentists and orthodontists who were accused of billing the state for unnecessary procedures from 2007 to 2012, accusations that state investigators struggled to prove in court.

In those cases, Medicaid fraud investigators identified nearly 100 dentists and orthodontists who they said cheated taxpayers and compromised patients’ health, but the state routinely came up short in those legal battles, with dentists arguing that every Medicaid procedure they performed was first approved by a company hired and overseen by the state health commission.

In 2014, the health commission’s Office of Inspector General was being hammered by top lawmakers for that track record of failures. A new leader, Stuart Bowen, took over the inspector general’s office early last year.

Read more: http://www.mystatesman.com/news/cvs-fires-back-texas-regulators-million-medicaid-fraud-case/nBJeVr4X3r494wAvIA3EyJ/

December 29, 2016

World's richest increased their wealth by $237 billion in 2016

The world’s wealthiest 200 billionaires increased their net worth by $237 billion in 2016, taking their total wealth to $4.4 trillion as of the close of trading on Tuesday, an overall increase for the year of 5.7 percent, according to calculations by Bloomberg.

The major factor in the wealth increase is the surge in the US stock market since the election of Donald Trump on November 8, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average heading towards 20,000, an increase of close to 9 percent in seven weeks, or 69 percent on an annualized basis.

At the top of the rich list is Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, whose net worth is $85.9 billion. As the Bloomberg report noted, without taking into account any interest payments or other wealth-enlarging factors, he would have to spend $2.3 million every day for the next 100 years to run down this vast fortune.

The biggest gainer for the year was Warren Buffet, whose investment firm Berkshire Hathaway saw its net worth increase by $11.8 billion, largely on the back of holdings in airlines and banks, whose stock values have soared since the election of Trump. His total wealth has risen to $74.1 billion, an increase of 19 percent for the year.

Read more: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2016/12/29/lead-d29.html

December 29, 2016

Ector County Medical Center Hospital retirees sue over benefits

ODESSA -- A group of 176 former employees of Medical Center Hospital are suing the Ector County Hospital District and its leaders in hopes of forcing them to reinstate retiree health benefits that will expire at the New Year as part of a cost-cutting measure.

The suit alleges that the hospital district violated promises made to the former employees and breached their contracts by removing them from the hospital insurance plan. Hospital officials dispute their claims.

“We very clearly made the promise to our employees that if they met the conditions that were spelled out clearly in policy that they would have coverage until death, and that their dependents would have coverage according to the rules of COBRA,” said lead plaintiff David Meisell, a former human resources administrator for the hospital, in an interview. “And that’s in print.”

COBRA is a federal law that provides continued coverage in certain situations for people who would otherwise lose health benefits.

Read more: http://www.oaoa.com/news/article_ddd31722-cd5f-11e6-a2c1-4ff19ec5c318.html

December 29, 2016

Polygamous leader takes plea deal in food-stamp fraud case

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A high-ranking polygamous leader was released from jail Wednesday after pleading guilty in a multimillion-dollar food-stamp fraud case, becoming the second of 11 defendants to accept a plea deal in the crackdown on the sect based along the Utah-Arizona border.

Federal prosecutors said deals could be coming with other defendants implicated in the scheme in which at least $12 million in food stamps was misused — some diverted to front companies to buy tractors, trucks and other items.

Seth Jeffs, 43, pleaded guilty to felony fraud after prosecutors agreed to accept the six months he has already served in jail as his punishment.

The charge carries a maximum possible penalty of 20 years in prison.

Read more: http://www.lmtonline.com/news/texas/article/Polygamous-leader-takes-plea-deal-in-food-stamp-10822775.php

December 29, 2016

Dan Patrick may run against Greg Abbott

AUSTIN — Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick brushed aside speculation of a 2018 gubernatorial run at the end of Texas’ last legislative session, insisting he’d never challenge his “close friend” and fellow Republican Greg Abbott.

But more than 18 months after that declaration to reporters — which came without anyone actually asking about a potential intraparty clash — Patrick has meticulously moved to the governor’s right on many issues that GOP primary voters hold dear.

Patrick fully embraced Donald Trump before the election, while Abbott kept his distance. The lieutenant governor also has become Texas’ leading social conservative voice, promising to impose strict state transgender bathroom rules, promoting school vouchers and blaming Black Lives Matter for encouraging anti-police sentiment.

Patrick is a tea party-backed, fiery former conservative talk radio host, while the governor is a lawyerly, ex-Texas Supreme Court justice who appeals more broadly to traditional Republicans. Both are downplaying possible intraparty gubernatorial fight that could send shockwaves through America’s second-largest state, while also giving no indication they won’t simply seek re-election to their respective posts in two years.

Read more: http://www.dentonrc.com/local-news/state-news/20161228-patrick-may-run-against-abbott.ece

December 29, 2016

State rep finds surprise proposal in The Advocate

STAMFORD — State Rep. Caroline Simmons (D) began the day as usual Friday, perusing the newspaper at breakfast.

But something was different. The back cover of The Advocate featured a full-page ad with a personal query.

“Dear Caroline, Will you marry me? Love, Artie.”

It took Simmons a moment to realize the proposal was from her boyfriend, state Sen. Art Linares (R).

Read more: www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/State-rep-finds-surprise-proposal-in-The-Advocate-10821325.php

December 29, 2016

WWE seeks to have brain injury lawsuit tossed

STAMFORD — World Wrestling Entertainment is asking a federal judge to dismiss the sixth lawsuit filed on behalf of a former wrestler who claims he suffered a traumatic brain injury.

The Connecticut Law Tribune reports that the 47-page brief filed in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport on Friday, also asks the judge to sanction the wrestler's attorney, Konstantine Kyros, and for Kyros and his co-counsels to pay two law firms representing the WWE more than $1 million in legal fees.

The brief notes that the court has reprimanded Kyros for his handling of several lawsuits against the wrestling empire since 2014, the law tribune reports. Read the full story here.

U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant, who admonished Kyros last month and threw out two lawsuits filed by him on behalf of the families of two former wrestlers whose deaths were allegedly linked to traumatic brain injuries suffered in the ring, will also handle the pending case.

Source: http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/WWE-seeks-to-have-brain-injury-lawsuit-tossed-10822189.php

December 29, 2016

7 arrested after brawls at Connecticut mall

MANCHESTER – Police have charged seven people in connection with a series of fights at a Connecticut mall that took officers from several departments to control.

The fights that erupted Monday evening at the Shoppes at Buckland Hills Mall in Manchester were among several brawls involving mostly youths reported at malls around the country.

Manchester police say men ages 20 and 19, as well as boys ages 16, 15, and 14, and a 15-year-old girl are facing charges including trespassing, breach of peace, and interfering with an officer.

Police say what started as a disturbance involving eight to 10 teens escalated into a “chaotic situation” and several fights.

Read more: http://www.rep-am.com/news/news-connecticut/2016/12/27/7-arrested-after-brawls-at-connecticut-mall/

December 29, 2016

New Year's Eve party at Skinner's Art Cafe aims to grow New Haven artist community

NEW HAVEN >> Is there a better way to spend New Year’s Eve than to be surrounded by those who inspire us most?

Local artist Gordon Skinner hopes the answer to that is “no” for many as he prepares to hold a New Year’s Eve party as the first event ever at Gordon Skinner’s Art Cafe at Erector Square.

“This will be phase one for the event space.” Skinner said, “I see a void here in the artist community. Everyone is in their cubbyholes and I want to give artists from the area a reason to come together.”

The event will be held from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday at Gordon Skinner’s Art Cafe at Erector Square, 315 Peck St., Building No. 4.

Read more: http://www.nhregister.com/lifestyle/20161228/new-years-eve-party-at-gordon-skinners-art-cafe-aims-to-grow-new-haven-artist-community

December 29, 2016

Union concessions could be part of next Connecticut state budget battle

Despite approving a new deal to restructure pension costs, state employee unions remain the focal point in what’s shaping up to be a painful struggle to balance Connecticut’s next budget.

With Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s proposal less than seven weeks away, his budget director warned that, unless unions grant further concessions, avoiding major tax hikes probably would require significant cuts to municipal aid, social services and higher education — and more layoffs.

And even with concessions, officials cannot avoid these other sensitive areas entirely, Office of Policy and Management Secretary Ben Barnes told The Mirror last week.

But labor leaders reject that argument. The way to preserve local aid, state jobs and vital services, they say, is to ask more from the wealthy and to slash robust subsidies and breaks for businesses.

Read more: http://www.theday.com/statenortheast/20161227/union-concessions-could-be-part-of-next-connecticut-state-budget-battle