Who among docs are suspects in US Tricare scam?
Terminated from the Tricare program are Divine Shepherd, Philippine International Hospital and the Riverfront International Hospital. Other providers in the list were St. John the Baptist Hospital, Subic Bay Medical Center, the Total Life Center
Who amongst doctors are included in the now joint United States (US) – Philippine Government investigation on the multi-million dollar US Tricare scam?
Probers, The News Today (TNT) gathered are optimistic of yet more major breaks in the coming weeks with whereabouts of 20 of the 37 earlier indicted "accounted for." Corresponding requests for extradition have been filed, TNT further learned, however arrests are imminent on any one included in the list once they set foot on US soil or US territory.
The indictments were first unsealed in 2006 with the continued investigation and validation reportedly reaching Tricare medical records from Iloilo City health providers. One of the key players in the scam was Thomas Lutz of Olongapo City, a regular visitor then of Iloilo.
A noted surgeon shared the lavish lives of Ilonggo doctors affiliated with Lutz including free trips to Manila and Christmas parties with brand new cars as raffle prizes.
The scam, the Ilonggo surgeon admitted, was "shameful" with Ilonggo Filipino-American military retirees made to sign blank forms. The modus was for non-accredited Tricare doctors to do the procedures, paid immediately in cash by the accredited provider then money reimbursed but jacked up to at least four-folds.
Another shared how an offer was made for a brand new Toyota Revo in exchange for continued Tricare involvement.
A reputable doctor also revealed getting a check for US $1,500 for services charged at P1,500 only. The check mailed directly to him was an apparent mistake and meant for his Tricare partner who already paid him the P1,500.
Eventually, doctors not for the scam yet in the scheme of helping out Ilonggo Tricare beneficiaries began to notice the massive fraud.
Lutz when arrested in 2005 pleaded guilty and reportedly named his local accomplices. He was ‘credited' for at least $100 million in fraudulent Tricare claims.
No less than Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez expressed willingness to help in the extradition telling members of the national media the "Department of Justice (DOJ) is determined to track down and arrest suspects and coordinate with US for extradition of suspects."
The Tricare scam in the Philippines resurfaced last week following recent arrests of two Filipino Manila-based doctors.
TNT in a report learned that US Pentagon officials estimated some $40 million a year in "swindled" US taxpayers' money lost to scheming and conniving Filipino doctors and Tricare Health Providers.
In fact, it was back in 2005 when a top US health official sought clearance to send more investigators to the Philippines. The request was unfortunately unheeded.
Latest to be arrested was Dr. Diogenes Dionisio who was handcuffed minutes after entering Guam, a US territory. To his credit was some $2 million in alleged fraudulent claims. His lawyer, Charles Giesen told Associated Press that his client was getting off the plane with his golf clubs and totally caught by surprise with the arrest.
Another one was Dr. Alberto Marzan, one of the longest-wanted fugitives in the probe, who according to news wires, recruited dozens of military retirees to falsely claim they and their relatives were confined at his clinic.
He made fraudulent claims of US$1.5 million US prosecutors released in a report.
The Department of Health (DOH) now vowed to move for the revocation of licenses of hospitals found to be involved in the scam. However, it would be a more elaborate process with privately-run hospitals not under DOH control.
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) for its part also vowed action with the commission having a jurisdiction over licensed professionals like doctors.
Meantime, an advisory is out on the net on Tricare beneficiaries pushed by the Retired Activities Office (RAO) based in Subic Bay. Majority of the Philippine-based Fil-Am military retirees and US military retirees are based here.
The RAO site likewise posted a Notice on the Lutz indictment and Lutz-backed Health Visions Corporation and all Health Visions Corporation (HVC) owned facilities.
Excluded and terminated from the Tricare program are Divine Shepherd, Philippine International Hospital and the Riverfront International Hospital. Other providers in the list were St. John the Baptist Hospital, Subic Bay Medical Center, the Total Life Center. Other non-HVC providers excluded and terminated were CMDF Medical Center and the WSL Medical Clinic. By Florence F. Hibionada - thenewstoday
Who amongst doctors are included in the now joint United States (US) – Philippine Government investigation on the multi-million dollar US Tricare scam?
Probers, The News Today (TNT) gathered are optimistic of yet more major breaks in the coming weeks with whereabouts of 20 of the 37 earlier indicted "accounted for." Corresponding requests for extradition have been filed, TNT further learned, however arrests are imminent on any one included in the list once they set foot on US soil or US territory.
The indictments were first unsealed in 2006 with the continued investigation and validation reportedly reaching Tricare medical records from Iloilo City health providers. One of the key players in the scam was Thomas Lutz of Olongapo City, a regular visitor then of Iloilo.
A noted surgeon shared the lavish lives of Ilonggo doctors affiliated with Lutz including free trips to Manila and Christmas parties with brand new cars as raffle prizes.
The scam, the Ilonggo surgeon admitted, was "shameful" with Ilonggo Filipino-American military retirees made to sign blank forms. The modus was for non-accredited Tricare doctors to do the procedures, paid immediately in cash by the accredited provider then money reimbursed but jacked up to at least four-folds.
Another shared how an offer was made for a brand new Toyota Revo in exchange for continued Tricare involvement.
A reputable doctor also revealed getting a check for US $1,500 for services charged at P1,500 only. The check mailed directly to him was an apparent mistake and meant for his Tricare partner who already paid him the P1,500.
Eventually, doctors not for the scam yet in the scheme of helping out Ilonggo Tricare beneficiaries began to notice the massive fraud.
Lutz when arrested in 2005 pleaded guilty and reportedly named his local accomplices. He was ‘credited' for at least $100 million in fraudulent Tricare claims.
No less than Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez expressed willingness to help in the extradition telling members of the national media the "Department of Justice (DOJ) is determined to track down and arrest suspects and coordinate with US for extradition of suspects."
The Tricare scam in the Philippines resurfaced last week following recent arrests of two Filipino Manila-based doctors.
TNT in a report learned that US Pentagon officials estimated some $40 million a year in "swindled" US taxpayers' money lost to scheming and conniving Filipino doctors and Tricare Health Providers.
In fact, it was back in 2005 when a top US health official sought clearance to send more investigators to the Philippines. The request was unfortunately unheeded.
Latest to be arrested was Dr. Diogenes Dionisio who was handcuffed minutes after entering Guam, a US territory. To his credit was some $2 million in alleged fraudulent claims. His lawyer, Charles Giesen told Associated Press that his client was getting off the plane with his golf clubs and totally caught by surprise with the arrest.
Another one was Dr. Alberto Marzan, one of the longest-wanted fugitives in the probe, who according to news wires, recruited dozens of military retirees to falsely claim they and their relatives were confined at his clinic.
He made fraudulent claims of US$1.5 million US prosecutors released in a report.
The Department of Health (DOH) now vowed to move for the revocation of licenses of hospitals found to be involved in the scam. However, it would be a more elaborate process with privately-run hospitals not under DOH control.
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) for its part also vowed action with the commission having a jurisdiction over licensed professionals like doctors.
Meantime, an advisory is out on the net on Tricare beneficiaries pushed by the Retired Activities Office (RAO) based in Subic Bay. Majority of the Philippine-based Fil-Am military retirees and US military retirees are based here.
The RAO site likewise posted a Notice on the Lutz indictment and Lutz-backed Health Visions Corporation and all Health Visions Corporation (HVC) owned facilities.
Excluded and terminated from the Tricare program are Divine Shepherd, Philippine International Hospital and the Riverfront International Hospital. Other providers in the list were St. John the Baptist Hospital, Subic Bay Medical Center, the Total Life Center. Other non-HVC providers excluded and terminated were CMDF Medical Center and the WSL Medical Clinic. By Florence F. Hibionada - thenewstoday
Labels: Health Visions, hvc, Subic Bay, tricare
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
7:45 AM
1 Comments:
As an retired USN American who will move to the Philippines in the near future with his Filipina wife of 32 years, this is SAD.
These people have ruined the system for future TriCare Vets who will live in the Philippines.
By
Anonymous, at 5/09/2008 1:28 PM
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