The Washington Post
by Carol D. Leonnig and Jerry Markon
February 6, 2013

Sen. Robert Menendez raised concerns with top federal health-care officials twice in recent years about their finding that a Florida eye doctor — a close friend and major campaign donor — had overbilled the government by $8.9 million for care at his clinic, Menendez aides said Wednesday.

Menendez (D-N.J.) initially contacted federal officials in 2009 about the government’s audit of Salomon Melgen, complaining to the director overseeing Medicare payments that it was unfair to penalize the doctor because the billing rules were ambiguous, the aides said.

Last year, in a meeting with the acting administrator of the agency in charge of Medicare and Medicaid, Menendez again questioned whether federal auditors had been fair in their assessment of Melgen’s billing for eye injections to treat macular degeneration, the senator’s aides said.

The agency had ordered Melgen to repay the $8.9 million, and at the time of both conversations, Melgen was disputing the agency’s conclusion. His appeal continues to this day.

(excerpted)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/s...40ba_print.html

How many thousands of these doc's are doing this kind of crap. The fox is guarding the hen house.

Quote: nerd wrote in post #2

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How many thousands of these doc's are doing this kind of crap. The fox is guarding the hen house.

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Thanks for posting this Palinista. This totally answers a question I posted the other day about this doctor friend. How did he afford a private jet on an eye doctors salary...

Strange Stewardess: Photo Emerges of Mystery Melgen-Menendez Woman

Zitat

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I have lots of questions about this scandal. First off, how the hell does an Ophthalmologist end up with private jets and the lifestyle that goes with that?

ophthalmologist [ˌɒfθælˈmɒlədʒɪst]
n
(Medicine) a medical practitioner specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases

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Now we know. This case is going to do a lot more than knock a crooked pedophile out of office. This massive abuse of the system is going to open up the govt' running healthcare can of worms. Look at how much abuse just one man was able to get away with.

Quote: Frank Cannon wrote in post #4

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Thanks for posting this Palinista. This totally answers a question I posted the other day about this doctor friend. How did he afford a private jet on an eye doctors salary...

Strange Stewardess: Photo Emerges of Mystery Melgen-Menendez Woman

Zitat

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I have lots of questions about this scandal. First off, how the hell does an Ophthalmologist end up with private jets and the lifestyle that goes with that?

ophthalmologist [ˌɒfθælˈmɒlədʒɪst]
n
(Medicine) a medical practitioner specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases

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Now we know. This case is going to do a lot more than knock a crooked pedophile out of office. This massive abuse of the system is going to open up the govt' running healthcare can of worms. Look at how much abuse just one man was able to get away with.

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You're welcome, Frank.

I hope you're right. It would be refreshing to see the abuse and fraud examined instead of accepting it as a routine function of government.

Imagine the outcry if Menendez was a Republican.

Democrat = hypocrit.

Quote: Thunderbird wrote in post #6

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Imagine the outcry if Menendez was a Republican.

Democrat = hypocrit.

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Drip.......drip .....drip.....

This is FUN when it is a Democrat !!

Even better, Christie will be on the other end with an appointment !!

Take your time Bob .....we are enjoying all the juicy details !!

Quote: W-Girl wrote in post #8

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Drip.......drip .....drip.....

This is FUN when it is a Democrat !!

Even better, Christie will be on the other end with an appointment !!

Take your time Bob .....we are enjoying all the juicy details !!

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Quote: FP123 wrote in post #9

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I don't think that it is a given that CC will appoint anyone that most here would be pleased with. In fact, I'm not even certain that the Vichy Republican governor will appoint a Republican to the seat (if vacated). Yeah, he's that bad. Hope I'm dead wrong.

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Quote: Thunderbird wrote in post #10

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Quote: FP123 wrote in post #9

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I don't think that it is a given that CC will appoint anyone that most here would be pleased with. In fact, I'm not even certain that the Vichy Republican governor will appoint a Republican to the seat (if vacated). Yeah, he's that bad. Hope I'm dead wrong.

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Many people (myself included) think Christie is a slam dunk to get re-elected Governor this year, which should mean any political calculation he makes in regards to such an appointment would be with an eye on the 2016 Presidential nomination.

My guess is that given such an opportunity Christie would choose a Republican woman, but not a conservative one.

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Quote: Thunderbird wrote in post #10

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Quote: FP123 wrote in post #9

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I don't think that it is a given that CC will appoint anyone that most here would be pleased with. In fact, I'm not even certain that the Vichy Republican governor will appoint a Republican to the seat (if vacated). Yeah, he's that bad. Hope I'm dead wrong.

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Many people (myself included) think Christie is a slam dunk to get re-elected Governor this year, which should mean any political calculation he makes in regards to such an appointment would be with an eye on the 2016 Presidential nomination.

My guess is that given such an opportunity Christie would choose a Republican woman, but not a conservative one.

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Quote: FP123 wrote in post #11

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I hope that I am completely wrong here, but I could actually see CC appointing a Democrat to replace Menendez, using the "since Sen. Menendez was recently re-elected in this state by a sizable majority, I don't want to interfere with the will of the voters, therefore I am sending {insert "moderate" dem crony here} as his replacement." [Cue: How do you like me now? How do you like me now?]

Like I said, I hope that I am totally wrong on the above!

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One of the main problems with CC is that he has no principles, he is all about politics (much like the rest of the GOP "leadership"). That is why I find it difficult to predict his actions.

Quote: nerd wrote in post #2

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How many thousands of these doc's are doing this kind of crap. The fox is guarding the hen house.

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