Woo-Hoo Denver – A Week Of Investigating Fraud, Waste, And Abuse
I just landed in Denver and plan to spend a fair amount of time here investigating fraud, waste, and abuse this week including working with local news reporters on a matter that should come out very soon.
This week, my schedule is pretty tight, but if anyone has feedback about issues they suggest I look into while I am here, please post a comment. The big focus of our trip is digging into Agency and Authority questions. How do we know who is in charge of what? Who can make certain decisions? Who makes the best breakfast burrito in town?
Important questions like that.
So, if you have some feedback, let’s hear it.
Locally, here are a few things I am looking into as far as the agency without spoiling the fun of the story that comes out later.
And, I am looking forward to seeing for myself the $1.7 billion Aurora VA facility – – I hope the toilet seats are rimmed with 24k gold at that price.
“3 deaths found in investigation of impaired pathologist at VA hospital in Fayetteville, Ark.”
Posted: Mon 12:37 PM, Sep 24, 2018
“FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — A Veterans Affairs hospital official says investigators have discovered 11 significant errors and three deaths in more than 30,000 cases originally seen by a pathologist officials say was working while impaired at the VA hospital in Fayetteville, Ark.
Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks spokeswoman Wanda Shull said Monday the families of the deceased veterans have been notified. Previously, investigators said one death was potentially the fault of Dr. Robert Morris Levy, who has denied working while impaired.
Eleven errors merited institutional disclosure, meaning mistakes in patient care that could or did result in “death or serious injury.” Officials have discovered 1,119 total errors, but not all resulted in change to clinical care.
Pathologists have now reviewed 14,980 cases, just under half of the total cases dating back to 2005.
Full Article At: “https://www.ky3.com/content/news/3-deaths-found-in-investigation-of-impaired-pathologist-at-VA-hospital-in-Fayetteville-Ark-494154031.html”
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Video from June of 2018 on press release that explains more about the Junkie VA Doctor who killed Veterans. Note the Article above show that there were at least 3 deaths caused by this Doctor who committed eleven errors which were life threatening and 1,119 errors which required changes in the Veterans clinical care.
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Hey Elf,
With Rod Rosenstein on his way out the door and leaving the number two spot open at the Department of Justice. Who do you think President Trump will choose to replace him?
I know that there is a line of secession and the next person in line is the number three man at the Department of Justice is the Solicitor General Noel Francisco. Currently his job is to represent the interests of the United States before the Supreme Court and to oversee appellate and certain other litigation on behalf of the United States in the lower federal and state courts.
Truly not the ideal candidate to take over the supervision of the Mueller witch hunt.
Given President Trump has demonstrated that he can, and will, choose replacements outside of an agencies line of secession. For example, when he chose Robert Wilkie, who had been confirmed by the Senate as Under Secretary of Defense for personnel and Readiness, as the Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs to replace the fire David Shulkin. Even though at the time the lines of secession would have placed Thomas Murphy the then Deputy Director of Veteran Affairs in as Acting Sec.
Personally, I am thinking that if Rosenstein is out he will be replaced by John W. Huber as Acting Deputy Attorney General. On August 3, 2017, he was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate to a second four-year term as a U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah. So, Trump can appoint him to the position.
Also, Huber was appointed by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions to investigate the FBI’s surveillance of Carter Page and connections between the Clinton Foundation and Uranium One, starting in November 2017. He has been working on a team with the Inspector General of the United States Michael E. Horowitz.
Their mission has also now been tasked with investigating the lead up to the Russia Gate witch Hunt. It was their team that provide the messages that the FBI and DOJ claimed to have lost from Peter Strzok, Lisa Page, Andrew McCabe, Bruce and Neilly Ohr.
I know that the Clintons must be shitting nickels right now and Mueller himself was involved with the Uranium One so you know he is shaking in his boots.
Yea, I can now understand why John W. Huber was assigned to team up with Horowitz. Pretty sure he will be the next Acting Deputy Director at the DOJ. No doubt that Jeff Sessions will likely retire after the Mid-term elections and Huber will take his place.
It will be like using a team of excavator to rip down the dam in Washington to drain the swamp.
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From: “Western Journal”
Titled:
“Trump Sends Strong Message to Vets: ‘You Backed Me and I Back You. That’s the Way It Works’”
(This is the title to google! To see what he did!)
Sorry, I couldn’t get it to post all the way!
https://twitter.com/JamesOKeefeIII/status/1044268581536628737
I’ve been on Choice since the beginning, now that the VA took over they’re reeling anyone and everyone back into the VA treatment. Even though I’ve been told if your happy with your treatment, you can keep it, contact outside care for a consult. There must be a memo out not to give any consults, because when I made a VA appt. that was 45 days out for what I’m on Choice for and asked a consult for outside care, they said they’ll call me back, what I got was a we can “Squeeze you in” at the 29th day mark. The VA is right back to how it was before Choice, long waits, etc. Anything to keep you inside the system, I’ve talked to other Vets too that the VA is scrambling to get people in, wherever they can, even if it’s a different VAMC. It’s not pretty when you walk in and they know you’ve been trying to get help from the White house hotline and the Pat. Adv. either, you get the look, attitude, and service of “that’s the guy that’s been reporting us” from the secretaries and the Dr.s and nurses.
“r”
“If your happy with your treatment, you can keep it!”
Sounds just like other lies told to the American People a few years ago!
Look at the unavailability of qualified C & P examiners and why. A Golden Colorado contract CBC has the contract for TBI but cannot provide transportation, rooms when needed or protocol examinations. Cannot send examiners to areas where the veterans are to do protocol exams.
Looks like a set up to reduce Denver VARO outlay for compensation by having “see nothing examiners”. Where is the kickback coming to the Director? Is it from the military industrial complex lobbyists competing for budget dollars?
Check the Director’s stock portfolio for his name in the stockholders of military industrial corporations and how he obtained the stock through SEC filings.
I have noticed that when the Veterans Administration opens up a new facility, often times the will cannibalize other VA centers to staff the new facility. The word seems to have gotten around to all the new doctors that the VA is not a “kind” place to go to work. Therefore they are always short of doctors. Even when the current VA budget gets a bump up to 200 billion dollars for their annual budget, there will still be a cronic shortage of doctors. This never seems to change because the governments answer to everything is “pump more money into it until the people quit screaming”. Trump can bust his hump trying to change the VA but it won’t work. Give us all a debit card and let us find our own doctors will be the ultimate solution.
Hey Elf,
Given recent events, do you think Rod will be wearing a wire on Thursday?
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Seymore,
President Trump might want to have his secret service details frisk the asshole!
There seems to be a possible rumor/fact going around, “King Rat Rosenstain” has “… verbally resigned to Gen Kelly…”!
If he’s fired, he loses everything. If he resigns, he keeps his retirement in check!
Hopefully he’s fired!
might it seem like they folks in charge might have picked up some kickbacks
WTF, nothings going to change. If you don’t have a lot of money or stroke you might as well keep your mouth shut… . Great country for those who can afford it.
Hey Ben, I have some information on more Waste, Fraud and Abuse if you would like to chat. I have supporting documentation and the VA wants to just ignore some massive fraud in the Wash DC contracting office. Vets were screwed out of $100 million alone on this one contract.
have no idea how to complete that form for an appropriate appeal. This whole thing is beyond reproach,
First I submit an application for benefits and unemployablity, then I am solicited by the VA to sign away my retired pay, and then the DAV and the VA give me a copy of my application that has resulted in a lost of benefits and a debt , not once but twice. Not to mention the other irregularities with my dependents, addresses and decision letters and missing emails and Notice of Disagreement sent and recieved on 27 June 2017 and on 30 May 2018.
I’m not qualified ,trained or have the expertise to put all this on a VA form 9, can you please write a letter or summary of your findings I can attach to the VA form 9
I have lost all confidence, trust in the VA to administrate any veteran’s benefits, applications or appeals.
I’m appalled, disgraced and find no evidence of honesty, dignity or even a thought of decency in this whole ordeal created somehow by VA software, and the whole VSO and claims process.
This is incredibly ludicrous in my opinion and obviously shenanigans or something more maliciously that has resulted in no duty to my best interest or to my claim development or my health, safety, security and we’ll being.
What are your recommendations and observations and perception what is my best course of action.
have no idea how to complete that form for an appropriate appeal. This whole thing is beyond reproach,
First I submit an application for benefits and unemployablity, then I am solicited by the VA to sign away my retired pay, and then the DAV and the VA give me a copy of my application that has resulted in a lost of benefits and a debt , not once but twice. Not to mention the other irregularities with my dependents, addresses and decision letters and missing emails and Notice of Disagreement sent and recieved on 27 June 2017 and on 30 May 2018.
I’m not qualified ,trained or have the expertise to put all this on a VA form 9, can you please write a letter or summary of your findings I can attach to the VA form 9
I have lost all confidence, trust in the VA to administrate any veteran’s benefits, applications or appeals.
I’m appalled, disgraced and find no evidence of honesty, dignity or even a thought of decency in this whole ordeal created somehow by VA software, and the whole VSO and claims process.
This is incredibly ludicrous in my opinion and obviously shenanigans or something more maliciously that has resulted in no duty to my best interest or to my claim development or my health, safety, security and we’ll being.
What are your recommendations and observations and perception what is my best course of action.
I
Why arent the VA hospitals Repairing Veterans instead of Treating them? Repair would cost less. Better for them to save money for use on more advanced technology.
Unless of course they make More money based on the Number of Veterans in their system…then I guess it makes sense to keep us Ill and broken.
Now you are catching on! Now times it by 30—-now you know what Trump is up against.
Forcing 100% perment and total veterans to preform new comp and pension examination.
The VA forced me to attend a new comp and pension examination after I was rated 100% perment and total since 2001. Shot in the head in 1972.
I do not think I could pinch a loaf on a seat made with gold. For that kind of dough there are certainly personal valets outside each stall dispensing prewarmed moist towelettes to the stake holders. The patient advocate most certainly has gender specific massage therapists on hand while you discuss his and the VA’s concern about your health as well.
The pole dancers in the lobby prefer to be called artists, and the Red Lobster catering service designated for veterans only prefer to serve up the finest and well cooked food and served complimentary with drinks and little bamboo umbrellas in them.
OR
It could be the same stench, the same facade, and the same sleezy VA as any other facility, service, or crew. Maybe it is just a fact that no matter how ornate an outhouse is they all do pretty much the same thing and smell the same way.
Remember Dennis this is Denver we are talking about. Just think former Senator Larry Craig utilization of the Denver Airport and how it wasn’t for the golden commodes.
Ben you know that I have been fighting the Denver VA disruptive committee since 2004.
The VA admitted to me and my wife in June via phone call that they determined that the Disruptive committee back in 2004 had not been run properly and if your case would have come in front of the Disruptive behavior today you would have never been punished.
But when I asked for a letter of apologize and cleanse my official medical records. The Denver VA representative became angry and said loudly WHY should we apologize to you for something that happened before we were in charge.
The VA knows I was falsely accused and punished and seem to be willing to keep the cover up going.
I live in la junta Colorado
Mr. Krause, I hear ya about the breakfast burritos. The only time I had a great one was in Texas, outside of Fort Hood.
BTW, have a safe and successful trip.
More Veterans News Denver
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“Dem Congressional Candidate Missed 35 Percent of Colorado Board of Veterans Affairs Meetings”
Jason Crow represented contractor who defrauded veterans hospital
BY: Jeffrey Cimmino, The Washington Free Beacon, September 21, 2018 7:51 pm
“A Democrat running for Congress in Colorado who touts his work on behalf of veterans missed 35 percent of the Colorado Board of Veterans Affairs’ meetings while he served on that body, according to meeting minutes.
Jason Crow, who is challenging incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Coffman (Colo.), also represented a contractor who defrauded a veterans hospital of up to $2 million.
The minutes show that Crow missed 18 out of 51 meetings of the Colorado Board of Veterans Affairs while he served on it between 2009 and 2014. Gov. John Hickenlooper (D.) reappointed Crow to a four-year term on the board in 2013, but he was no longer a member as of May 2014.
In June 2014, the Aurora Sentinel reported that “simmering scandals finally boiled over in May when major problems within VA medical care were confirmed by the release of a departmental audit June 9. The report, which detailed thousands of veterans on waiting lists for months, was the latest news for a battered system under fire for mismanaged facilities and care.””
https://freebeacon.com/issues/dem-congressional-candidate-missed-35-percent-colorado-board-veterans-affairs-meetings/
When you are a junkie nurse that has been fired from numerous medical facilities where do you go to work? VA
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Seymore,
That doesn’t surprise me one bit!
Remember that “serial killer” hired by VA in Ohio awhile ago!
Serial Killer Donald Harvey | The Angel of Death | One of the most prolific Serial killers ever
“Harvey pleaded guilty in 1987 to killing 37 people, mostly while he worked as a nurse’s aide at hospitals in Cincinnati and London, Kentucky. He later claimed he was responsible for killing 18 others while working at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Cincinnati.”
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VA whistleblowers say Denver office did no work for a year
Posted 12:25 pm, July 24, 2018, by Rob Low, Fox News Denver Channel 3
DENVER — Imagine making close to $100,000 a year and having nothing to do at the office.
It’s what Denver whistleblowers say was reality for employees at the local Office of the Inspector General for Veterans Affairs.
That’s the very division in charge of wiping out waste, fraud and abuse for the medical system that serves the nation’s veterans.
“These are your tax dollars that are paying the salaries of these individuals to sit in an office and do absolutely nothing all day,” said one anonymous whistleblower to the Problem Solvers.
“After a while it became a joke,” is how a second whistleblower described it.
“Come into work and pretty much staring at the wall all day kind of just hanging out every day pretty much with nothing to do.”
Both whistleblowers filed complaints with the Office of Special Counsel in Washington, stating an office of 11 employees basically did no work from April 2017 to April 2018.
The combined salaries of those employees during that time frame totaled more than $1.2 million.
“Long lunches, I mean watching movies, reading books. I mean I was doing school work. I`m not going to lie I did not have any work assigned. I spent the majority of my time doing school work,” said whistblower No. one, who happened to be a paid intern making $47,214 a year to help conduct information technology audits.
The Problem Solvers obtained copies of the complaints filed with the Office of Special Counsel and the one from whistleblower No. 2 states, “I would have filed this sooner but this office has already had two investigations into management and nothing has happened. The office has actually gotten worse and now you throw in no work.
In mid-June the Office of Special Counsel released a letter to the whistleblowers admitting the Denver OIG office “did not have sufficient work to keep all employees fully engaged on active projects,” though it only acknowledges this for a nine-month period from July 2017 to April 2018, instead of the one-year time frame alleged by the whistleblowers.
In its letter of findings the Office of Special Counsel wrote, “Several factors contributed to the lack of assigned work, including the untimely selection and approval of audit topics and the fact that some staff were unfamiliar with the development of quality audit proposals.”
Investigators determined the office would operate better in the future because another manager had recently been hired (in addition to the office director and two existing managers) to help oversee an office as of May that now has 10 auditors instead of seven.
When asked if someone should be fired, whistleblower No. 2 said, “Honestly, yes,” adding it’s “like a slap in face” that no one was held accountable.
In its letter of findings the Office of Special Counsel wrote, “Several factors contributed to the lack of assigned work, including the untimely selection and approval of audit topics and the fact that some staff were unfamiliar with the development of quality audit proposals.”
Investigators determined the office would operate better in the future because another manager had recently been hired (in addition to the office director and two existing managers) to help oversee an office as of May that now has 10 auditors instead of seven.
When asked if someone should be fired, whistleblower No. 2 said, “Honestly, yes,” adding it’s “like a slap in face” that no one was held accountable.
On July 17, Coffman raised the Denver whistleblower case with the then-VA Acting Secretary Peter O’Rourke at a Veterans Affairs Committee titled “The VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act: One Year Later.”
According to a letter sent to Coffman, O’Rourke referred the mater to the Integrity Committee of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency for “whatever action that body deems appropriate.”
https://kdvr.com/2018/07/24/va-whistleblowers-say-denver-office-did-no-work-for-a-year/
What is infuriating about this, and something Ben should look into is that I had no idea this IG office existed. I heard reference to it long after I had called the VA HQ IG office and was hung up on.
By the time I heard of an IG in Denver, I had resolved the problem on my own.
Ben should not only look into the function, or lack thereof, in this office, but he should look at every office at Denver, whether they have any oversight responsibilities of any hospital or clinic in other parts of the state, and when the last time was any oversight involving an on site inspection was performed.
Its possible Pueblo or Colorado Springs is visited once in awhile since its a trip down I-25. I would like to know the last time any Denver flunky took a 4 hour trip over the mountain to Grand Junction, a 5 hour trip to Montrose, or to any other VA clinic in the state.
I suspect there is a LOT of self reporting through email or other reports submitted electronically, and very little if any actual on site inspections.
I also suspect there are significant bonuses paid from travel savings by not doing these on site inspections.
Seymore,
This morning I received a utube video over a pharmacutical company being charged with fraud.
It’s now 4:30pm and I can’t find the video. So, I googled “pharmacutical company being charged with fraud”!
What I got was article after article on pharmas being charged with fraud and other criminal behavior.
Hopefully, this “trend” will continue and they’ll end up going out of business!
Why does the VA hate us so much. They”ll seek out any avenue to cause us pain, misery, or even death to gain an upper hand for some purpose that I can’t understand. What have I done to these people for them to come after me for some demented reason to harm me? Trying to live a normal life with disabilities is hard enough, why do they want to piss on my leg?
Can you explain what they are doing to you ?.
Someone (employee) may not like you for personal reasons ?.
Have a safe and fruitful trip.
Fruitful or do you mean budding?
Productive.
Understood! Was just planting the seeds of thought on a possibly flowering relationship while enjoying the Rocky Mountain high attitude.
Woops, I should have said altitude.
HEY BEN, WHICH VA EMPLOYEE RECEIVED A HUGE BONUS FOR SCREWING TYPE II DIABETIC VETERANS BY CHANGING THE POLICY FROM 50 GLUCOSE TEST STRIPS EVERY 90 DAYS TO ONLY 50 PER YEAR!!!!! THIS WILL RESULT IN A LARGE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF AMPUTATIONS OF TOES, FEET, AND LEGS!!!!!! AND THIS COMES AT THE SAME TIME TRUMP JUST SIGNED THE BIGGEST VA BUDGET IN HISTORY!!!!!! THIS INTENSIFIES THE LINGERING STENCH WITHIN VA!!!!!!
These people at the VA are not our friends at all! Cutting glucose test strip per month to yearly is not only heartless, but sneaky, evil, and devilish.
The current president is taking away our COLA, but the same president gave the rich a big give away! How much money is too much money for them?
Money is only of this world, and it cannot help you in the afterlife.
Please provide source for “taking away COLA”…can’t seem to find any info on that….
Pretty Sure that Chris P is wrong about his statements on the COLA.
From USA Today
Social Security recipients could see their biggest raise in years: A Foolish Take
Dan Caplinger, The Motley Fool Published 6:00 a.m. ET Aug. 28, 2018
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/retirement/2018/08/28/social-security-recipients-could-see-big-raise-cola/37544173/
From Military Benefits
COLA Increase Watch 2019
“The 2019 COLA is expected be announced in mid-October 2018. There is still one month to go but all signs point to the biggest COLA increase in 7 years.”
https://militarybenefits.info/cola-increase-watch/