john-degroot.com: Recent Comments

Comment on Why Broward Won't Work

Ivy Faggione — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:42:17 GMT

Very astute observation. I grew up here and went through the metamorphous to which you are referring. No wonder it is difficult to feel any solidarity or allegiance to this disjointed environment. I've felt more communion when visiting larger cities for the first time. It's a shame we Just can't seem to get it right.

Comment on Broward Health Meltdown - Redux

bgmc — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:31:45 GMT

Hope your prophecy comes through

Comment on Best of All Possible Worlds - NOT!

Mariyn Bainter — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 18:10:43 GMT

We've got our battle going here in Lake County. The local judge has ruled the hospital tax is constitutional because of grandfathering (1885 constitution). We don't plan to give up that easily.
Marilyn

Comment on You don't need a weatherman....

jeanne — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 14:17:07 GMT

Please, please, help me understand. I am obviously missing something here. Rick Scott who was found guilty of the largest Medicare Fraud in US history is leading the investigation of North Broward Hospital District for the same fraud charges he himself was involved in a few years ago? Yes, I know that he is the governor but seriously? The proximity of Florida to the Caribbean has turned it into a Banana country. Apparently corruption on one's CV is no big deal to become a state governor. I have very little hope that we will see the bottom of this. I still have to understand what the Feds are doing with all this.

Comment on What Stark Law?

Jeanne — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 14:12:57 GMT

Yes but what are the repercussions for the corrupt physicians who accepted the kickbacks? Last I checked they all remain there, enjoying their fat paychecks courtesy of our tax dollars. The corruption is vertically integrated. Changing heads doesn't stop the corruption in place.

Comment on Time for Lifeboats?

joe — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 18:50:30 GMT

what about the proton beam that Frank Nask had to pay 1 million to be # 7 on the list for a machine that had not been created or tested yet (the 3rd ed, was much smaller and "more" affordable) they bailed on the machine but lost 1 million in down payment

Comment on What Stark Law?

bgmcinsider — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:14:38 GMT

FYI:
Joe Rodgers and Brian Ulery, both of whom were involved in physician services have resigned from Broward Health. They will take their talents (of overpaying doctors and losing money) to join ex Broward General CEO James Thaw, in Athens, Georgia.

Comment on WTF?

Jeanne — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 20:52:40 GMT

Well, go check Broward County records for the fat cat doctors you listed in your previous post..with our tax money they are paying off their million dollars mac mansions..yes, WTF, right?

Comment on Note - The Shocking Facts

Florida Resident — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 10:46:16 GMT

Hi John,

What was the outcome of this Federal investigation? I also wanted to ask you how come Rick Scott who was found guilty by Federal investigators of taking part in business practices at Columbia/HCA that were later found to be illegal is leading the investigation of North Broward Hospital's violation of Stark's law and antikickbacks law?

Wasn't he found guilty of the same violations himself years back?

(According to reports, Scott and other executives offered financial incentives to doctors in exchange for patient referrals, in violation of federal law, according to lawsuits the Justice Department filed against the company in 2001. (The doctor payments were among 10 different kinds of fraud identified by the Justice Department in its 10-year probe of the company, records show. Three years after Scott left Columbia/HCA, the company admitted wrongdoing, pleading guilty to 14 felonies -- most committed during Scott's tenure -- in addition to paying two sets of fines totaling $1.7 billion) -- from the Miami Herald)

Last, how could these physicians be still practicing? Were they ever sanctioned?
Thanks

Comment on What Stark Law?

Vance Jochim — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 16:07:31 GMT

John - send me your email and phone. I am tracking our own Hospital District in Lake County. Have you sent any of your info to Governor Scott's Hospital District Investigation Commission? I have been there once and have the contact info, but need your email to communicate.