Thoughts for the Day, February 27, 2025: Do not cut Medicaid benefits or Medicaid eligibility. It is not a good business decision
Here is why we need transparency in government in Michigan
From the Detroit News. The law firm that advised former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield's nonprofit organization determined his account filed some "questionable" expenses, including a strip club tab, and attempted to impose a policy manual to combat the problematic spending, a firm employee testified Wednesday in court.
The revelations from Renae Moore, a compliance specialist at the Dykema law firm, came on the opening day of Chatfield's preliminary examination in Ingham County District Court, where a judge will eventually decide whether 13 felony charges against the ex-GOP leader should proceed to trial.
Moore's answers in court Wednesday shined a rarely seen light on the world of secret fundraising in Lansing, where many lawmakers routinely collect checks through nonprofits from donors whose names don't have to be reported publicly. Dykema, which has a law office across the street from the state Capitol, handles the paperwork and tax filings of many of the politician-connected nonprofits.
Moore testified that at Dykema, she helps to manage more than 80 accounts. But separately, she testified that she didn't believe she had a duty to report concerns about problematic spending to anyone. "Expenses that fall outside of the scope of the entity's purpose include dry cleaning, haircuts, personal clothing, satellite radio services, fitness memberships and other personal expenditures that do not further the purpose of the fund," Moore said. This is my Quote of the Day.
With testimony like Moore’s above saying she didn’t believe she had a duty to report concerns about problematic spending to anyone, what chances do we as citizens have of know how our legislatures spend donations without FOIA?
Earlier this week, I asked the question “What are they hiding?” We know the answer. Yet, the governor and the state legislature continue to avoid passing legislation to open our governor’s office and the state legislature to FOIA requests.
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Speak up and speak out: Do not cut Medicaid eligibility or benefits. Medicaid recipients are not the cause of Medicaid fraud and waste.
Per the Detroit Free Press. The U.S. House this week narrowly passed a budget resolution that would result in significant changes to Medicaid, the federal-state health insurance program that covers nearly 1 in 5 Americans.
The budget resolution calls for the Energy and Commerce Committee to find $880 billion in savings and spending reductions from programs under its jurisdiction.
And although the resolution is just an outline and must go through Senate debate, it has created a national conversation surrounding potential cuts to social services.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday that Republicans are committed to preserving benefits "for those who desperately need it, deserve it and qualify for it. What we're talking about is rooting out the fraud, waste and abuse.” I hope this is true.
Cutting eligibility to Medicaid and cutting benefits will have a disastrous effect on our health systems and local communities. Over 26% or 2.6 million people are enrolled in Medicaid in Michigan. A 20% reduction in those eligible will move 520,000 off the Medicaid roll. Emergency rooms will become their primary care providers. Any prescriptions they require will not be filled because of affordability. It is most likely that thEey will be back in the ER in a few weeks. They will become what is known as frequent flyers. ER wait times will be even greater.
Medicaid recipients account for a very small percentage of Medicaid fraud. Most fraud is committed by providers. A recent report by the Department of Health and Human Services indicates a large majority of fraud is committed by providers in the following areas.
· Ambulances
· Clinics
· Lab testing
· Durable Medical Equipment
· Electronic Health Records
· Genetic Testing
· Home Health Providers
· Nursing Homes
· Hospitals
· Laboratories
The HHS fraud and abuse units over a three-year period 2021-2023 recovered $2.8 for every $1 spent on fraud detection.
If the Republicans want to get rid of fraud and abuse in the Medicaid program, they need to make a good business decision by investing more money in fraud detection while not reducing those eligible for Medicaid or in reducing Medicaid benefits.
Please call your members of Congress today. The U.S. Capitol switchboard is 202-224-3121. Tell the operator where you’re from and the operator will connect you to your representatives and senators. I tested this out today. It is very simple. They will ask for the congress member you want to contact. They will then switch you to that office.
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Lady Luck may decide the B1G men’s basketball championship.
Former Michigan men’s basketball coach John Beilein recently said that winning the B1G takes luck. In the last two MSU victories the Spartans had Lady Luck on their side.
In their victory over Michigan, Jeremy Fears Jr. who is shooting less than 20% from behind the arc, hit a desperation three point shot that was banked off the backboard as the shot clock ran out which put MSU up by six with under two minutes to go. The shot seemed to take the wind out of U of M’s sails.
And then there was last night. MSU was tied 55-55 when Maryland went for the win with a 3-point shot that came up short. MSU’s Jaxon Kohler rebounded the ball, flipped it to Tre Holloway, who took one dripple heaved it ¾ court. It was all net for a game-winning triple. See my Video of the Day.
Not to be outdone, tonight the U of M Wolverines were trailing Rutgers by one with 3.6 seconds remaining as Michigan took the ball out on the side in the front court. The initial drive was cutoff, so it was passed to M’s Naomi Burnett who hit a 30-footer for the win as time expired. With the win, the Wolverines and Spartans are tied for the top in the B1G with 14-3 records with three games remaining, the last is against each other in East Lansing.
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Quote of the Day: Renee Moore, a compliance specialist at the Dykema law firm, testified that at Dykema, she helps to manage more than 80 accounts. But separately, she testified that she didn't believe she had a duty to report concerns about problematic spending to anyone. "Expenses that fall outside of the scope of the entity's purpose include dry cleaning, haircuts, personal clothing, satellite radio services, fitness memberships and other personal expenditures that do not further the purpose of the fund,"
Orchid of the Day: To all of you for the outpouring of your support for my sister Nancy and her family following the passing of Nancy’s husband Zane Berge.
Onion of the Day: Michigan’s men’s basketball team’s defense in the first half against Rutgers tonight. They allowed Rutgers to score 57 points in the first half.
Lyrics of the Day: Now I lay me down to sleep Pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I die before I wake Pray the Lord my soul to take. Hush, little baby, don't say a word. And never mind that noise you heard. It's just the beasts under your bed In your closet, in your head
If you think you know the answer, send me your answer in the comments section of the blog.
Answer to Lyrics of the Day for February 25, 2025: I don’t want to miss a thing. Aerosmith.
“Question of the Day: I ask again, what are the governor and state legislators hiding from us, that they allow our state to be 49th in transparency.
Video of the Day: Tre Halloway for the Win.
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So sorry about your sister