When I started writing this blog, it was about corruption in the NCDHHS . Sadly corruption is so prevalent in our society today that we just tolerate it. Politicians are taking money from large corporations to get elected. If anyone believes these people aren't influenced by those campaign contributions, wake up!
In our political system, it would be hard to find anyone who is not influenced by corporate money. Politicians don't even try to act like they care about what the people want.
I have written several politicians and requested specific actions. The responses I've received were simply form letters that are generated by a computer. The letters always applaud concerned citizens who get involved. Then they go on to tell you all the great things the politicians have done, and all the committees they are on. Then they go on to say if you have any more concerns please feel free to contact them. All of this without ever addressing the reason that you wrote them in the first place.
I have been lucky enough to receive some assistance from two Congressmen. The problem is that there are so many agencies and government contractors involved, none of them seem to know who does what. There is a company called NCI Advancemed, they are the " zone program integrity contractor " for Medicare in this region. I received a letter from them last year stating that they had reviewed my complaint and taken appropriate action. Not knowing who they were at the time, I called them and asked what actions had been taken. I spoke to a Shannon Stinedurf, in Ohio, who told me they had not taken any action against anyone mentioned in my complaint!
If that isn't bad enough, my brother and I both filed through the freedom of information act for the results of their investigation. We both received a response stating that there are no records matching what we asked for. That means that they didn't actually do an investigation! That also means that our taxes are going to pay NCI Advancemed to investigate. All they apparently do is to write letters saying they have done so, and collect a paycheck. The new face of welfare recipients seems to be government contractors.
We have gotten the same runaround from the CMS, nobody seems to be able to say what they did in response to our complaints. They also seem to have a problem locating any records from any investigations they supposedly conducted.
Then you have the NCDHHS, the worst of all. They will take your complaint willingly enough, but don't count on them actually finding anything. The common reply from them is " no discrepancies found " . They seem to find plenty of issues when they do their recertification, but never when it's a complaint. I have a copy of their investigation of my complaint, and it is a joke. There are important statements made by the investigators, with no supporting documents. I have written Beverley Speroff, the survey section chief for the State, asking for a meeting to discuss the facts, and was denied.
They are willing to let Hendersonville Health and Rehabilitation get away with anything. They have no intention of actually doing an investigation.
Is there corruption here, or just a lack of concern for how our elderly are treated. Either way, these people have to be stopped. I could use any help I can get, whether from employees, patients or family members. Lots of people have told me stories, I need them to tell their stories to others. If it takes me the rest of my life, I will not stop trying to help. Both of my parents are gone, but others are still suffering at the hands of these thieves.
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