Latest news with #HSS
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
‘They need to be held accountable': Minnesota man says agency billed Medicaid for housing aid he never got
'I've never got an hour of help." That's how Steven Smith sums up his experience with Leo Human Services, the for-profit agency that — according to Medicaid billing records reviewed by KARE 11 — charged taxpayers thousands of dollars for supposedly helping him find and keep a home. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) Smith, who'd just finished inpatient treatment for substance-use disorder, says he only received a few phone calls and never met anyone in person. Yet the company still sent a bill to Minnesota's Medicaid program. Smith's situation is part of a broader KARE 11 investigation that is shaking confidence in Minnesota's Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) program, designed to help people with disabilities — including those with mental health issues and substance-use disorders — to find and maintain housing. Since its launch in July 2020, this initiative has already cost taxpayers $248 million, but investigations show it may not be reaching the vulnerable Minnesotans that it was designed to help. The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) — which oversees the HSS — told KARE 11 the housing and transition services are intended to help seniors and people with disabilities to get hands-on assistance with finding and maintaining housing. According to state rules, at least half of those services must be delivered in person. But Smith says he received only a handful of phone calls. His girlfriend, Rachel Lien, has a similar story after Leo Human Services charged Medicaid $14,000 in her name. "I had never heard of this company," Lien told KARE 11. 'I never met with them. I never talked to them on the phone.' Billing data shows that Leo Human Services — run by Asad Adow out of a strip-mall office in Brooklyn Park — billed Medicaid $1.2 million in 2024. When KARE 11 asked Leo Human Services for Smith's records, the paperwork included an electronic signature that Smith insists he never wrote. The signature also misspelled his name as 'Steven Jr Smith.' 'Why would I say that I'm Steven Jr Smith?' Smith asked. 'My middle name is actually Steven Dwayne Smith.' KARE 11 investigators took a look at the metadata taken from the PDF document that Smith allegedly signed and found that Smith's electronic signature — which was dated August 28, 2023 — was actually written the following day on August 29. The signature was also reportedly authored by someone who goes by the name of 'Wats Hanin.' KARE 11 was unable to locate anyone by that name, and under DHS rules, providers are barred from signing documents for clients. When KARE 11 reporters confronted Adow in the parking lot outside his office, the latter denied any wrongdoing. 'People say you're not doing work, that you're billing thousands of dollars for work that's not being done,' said KARE 11 reporter A.J. Lagoe. 'I'm doing everything correctly,' Adow insisted before climbing into his car and driving off. Fraud worries around HSS are hardly new. According to KARE 11, a 2024 report from the housing nonprofit Hearth Connection warned of 'predatory activity to enroll individuals without their knowledge,' including recruiters waiting around emergency shelters and misrepresenting their companies' offerings. In a Senate hearing in January 2025, then-DHS Commissioner Jodi Harpstead downplayed the issue, saying 'there's a lot of rumors of fraud more than there is actual fraud.' She resigned from her position just weeks later. Her interim successor, Shireen Gandhi, has taken a different tack: DHS now lists HSS as a 'high-risk' service, subjecting providers to fingerprint checks and unannounced site visits. She confirmed 40 active fraud investigations are underway. 'It's clear that these critical services need more oversight,' Gandhi said in a press release. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it When providers siphon off Medicaid dollars, the people HSS is meant to serve risk losing legitimate help at a time when affordable housing is scarce. It also breaks the public's trust in legitimate services, putting other important programs at risk. If you think you've been targeted by a fraudulent housing assistance program, there are steps you can take: Verify the provider: Confirm the agency is enrolled and in good standing on the DHS website. Collect your records: Request detailed service logs and signatures, and remember to keep all correspondence. Report suspected fraud: Call the DHS Program Integrity hotline or submit an online tip using the Program Integrity Oversight hotline form. You can also file a complaint with the Minnesota Attorney General's Office or your county's human services fraud unit. If you need assistance, seek help from verified programs. Housing navigators in your county and Continuum of Care agencies can connect you to legitimate support. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Housing Choice Voucher and Section 811 programs also offer rental assistance for people with disabilities. With new investigations launched and stricter screening on the horizon, state officials say they're working hard to protect both vulnerable residents and public funds. But for people like Smith and Lien, their wish is simple: 'I think they need to be held accountable." Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now This is how American car dealers use the '4-square method' to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Former sub-postmistress 'still fighting' for full compensation
A former County Tyrone sub-postmistress has said she is "still fighting" to get back all of the money she is owed as a result of the Post Office IT scandal. More than 900 sub-postmasters were wrongly prosecuted because of incorrect information from the Horizon computer system showed missing payments from their branch accounts. It comes after Sir Alan Bates, who led a redress campaign for victims, wrote in the Sunday Times that his compensation offer was less than half of his claim. The Department for Business and Trade said: "Anyone unhappy with their offer can have their case reviewed by a panel of experts." Fiona Elliott bought a Post Office and shop in the rural village of Clady in County Tyrone with her husband in 2005. She said that she was putting thousands of pounds of her own money to cover shortfalls logged in the system. "Now I'm still fighting to get it back," she told BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme. Mrs Elliott said she first applied for compensation as a result of the scandal five years ago, but added that she has only been offered 5% of what she believes she is entitled to. She previously told the Post Office Inquiry in 2022 that her losses, including wages and the repossession of buy-to-let properties, was about £1m. "It feels like we have to beg to get it back," she said. "I lost the shop, the Post Office and then I lost buy-to-let properties as well." She added that complex cases, like hers often, face delays when it comes to compensation being paid out. Mrs Elliott said she has appealed her compensation total three times, and has now been advised to apply for the Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS). This scheme is for sub-postmasters who were not convicted or part of the Group Litigation Order court action, but who believe they experienced shortfalls because of Horizon. This group will be offered a fixed payment of £75,000 or can have an application assessed by the scheme. Mrs Elliott said she feels she has wasted "five years on a scheme that wasn't going to pay me out anyway". "It's just like starting over again. "You're constantly begging with them and constantly appealing and it's just going on too long." Mrs Elliott said she is not sure of how much faith she has in the scheme, and that many sub-postmasters are still waiting to be paid. "I don't think there's very many who have got their full and fair redress and I'm only sitting at a 5% offer at the minute and to get it to 100% it could be a long road," she said. She added that she believes many will take a lower offer than what they're entitled to because they don't want to fight anymore. "I'm going to keep going until the end," she added. In a statement a spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade said: "We pay tribute to all the postmasters who've suffered from this scandal, including Sir Alan for his tireless campaign for justice. "We have quadrupled the total amount paid to postmasters since entering government." The statement added that it recognises there will be an "absence of evidence given the length of time which has passed" and therefore will give the benefit of the doubt to postmasters. "Anyone unhappy with their offer can have their case reviewed by a panel of experts, which is independent of the government," it added. Why were hundreds of Post Office workers wrongly prosecuted?
Irish Times
25-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
The Irish Times view on infrastructure: stop making the same mistakes
The news that the official opening of the National Children's Hospital will be further delayed will not come as a surprise to anyone who has been observing the tortuous progress of this elephantine project. Completion of the hospital, a vital piece of the State's health infrastructure, has been delayed again until at least September, with patients now not expected to be treated there until June 2026 at the earliest. The facility has become emblematic of the apparent impossibility of delivering major capital projects on time and on budget. Concern is intensified by the fact that the Government is committed to the most extensive programme of infrastructure investment in the State's newly-appointed director of MetroLink, Sean Sweeney, has already said the underground rail line from Dublin Airport to the south-central city could cost 20 per cent more than its projected budget of ¤9.5 billion. Sweeney brings a welcome international perspective to the question of why large projects appear doomed to suffer cost overruns, delays or both. He has bluntly said MetroLink's planned completion date of 2035 will probably not be met and that there will be 'grievous' disruption to people's lives during its construction. READ MORE Such frankness is welcome. Stories such as that of the truncated HSS train line in the UK, the aborted high-speed rail link between Los Angeles and San Francisco or the decades it took to complete Berlin's Brandenburg airport, have all given fuel to accusations that the modern administrative state, and democratic systems generally, are mired in over-regulation, excessive litigation and a failure of public administration. Whether fair or not, these critiques carry a particular resonance in Ireland, where a combination of decades of under-investment and a sharp rise in population is already putting intolerable pressure on creaking infrastructure. It remains to be seen whether the reform of planning legislation introduced by the last government will improve the situation, although many observers are sceptical. A report on infrastructure last week from Ibec, the business lobby, had a range of sensible recommendations on speeding up delivery, as well as calling for a review to ensure the wider public good takes priority in planning. And planning is not the only issue. The chair of the new Oireachtas Committee on Infrastructure has said it will examine the practice of 'lowballing' on public capital projects, where estimates of cost are pitched low but the price escalates afterwards. With the benefit of Apple's tax payment and significant resources in the exchequer, the Government has an opportunity to make progress on transformational investments. But it can't just continue doing the same things and hoping for a different result.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Minnesota mother says Medicaid-funded program falsified documents, billed for hours of help she never received
A Minnesota mother is speaking out after she discovered the Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) had falsified records of her case, allegedly offering her months of help when in reality, she was barely contacted by the agency at all. Rachel Lien, a recovering addict who needed support setting up in her new apartment with her son, was referred to Brilliant Minds Services by a friend. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) Brilliant Minds is, on paper, one of the top service providers for the HSS program. When Lien got in touch with one of their representatives, she explained that she had already found housing, but needed help with paying for things like cleaning supplies and a vacuum. Lien waited months for help, eventually receiving a vacuum and nothing else, in spite of her multiple attempts to follow up on her request. In the meantime, local news station KARE 11 reports Brilliant Minds staff were falsifying documentation on her case, detailing many visits, apartment hunting on her behalf and other services totalling 30 hours of billable time for the agency. 'I never met with them,' Lien told KARE 11. 'It's a scam, a total scam.' Minnesota's HSS program is one of the first of its kind in the country. This Medicaid-backed program provides support for those looking for low-income housing, help with moving expenses and guidance on transition and housing retention services. The goal of the program is primarily to help older adults and people with disabilities find and keep safe and affordable housing. However, the program is unlicensed, and the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) told KARE 11 it currently has 40 active fraud investigations into its service providers. The DHS also reported to KARE 11 that the program became difficult to manage as demand was much higher than anticipated. 'HSS has surpassed what was initially projected … in terms of the number of individuals enrolled in the program and providers delivering services. This rapid growth has brought additional challenges to build and implement quality assurance and oversight that matches the unforeseen scale of the program," the DHS wrote to KARE 11. Read more: You're probably already overpaying for this 1 'must-have' expense — and thanks to Trump's tariffs, your monthly bill could soar even higher. Here's how 2 minutes can protect your wallet right now When Lien reported her case to KARE 11 for investigation, they asked her to reach out to Brilliant Minds and request copies of all her records. For nearly a month between March and April of this year, Brilliant Minds' records show that every Friday and Saturday morning, a case worker was helping Lien find housing, a service she never requested and didn't need. Further falsified records show that a case worker allegedly met with her for an in-person intake session on March 8 — the same time she was attending a local group counselling session. 'Everything listed is a complete lie," Lien told KARE 11. The news station attempted to contact Brilliant Minds several times for comment, but found their phone line had been disconnected and that their office was dark and locked during their regular business hours. They finally responded through email, saying, 'All services rendered — both direct and indirect — were thoroughly documented in our Electronic Health Record (EHR) system … The client was discharged after approximately four weeks due to the client's continued lack of engagement, and as such, no further billing occurred beyond that period.' However, Lien provided KARE 11 with proof of her continued attempts to contact her case worker through texts and email. Following the news station's report, the DHS increased the risk level for HSS service providers from 'limited' to 'high' risk. The providers will now be subject to unannounced drop-in visits from DHS personnel and other measures to ensure their compliance. In Lien's case, KARE 11 reports her falsified records amount to a $2,060 bill — funded by local taxpayers — and all she has to show for it is a vacuum cleaner. Costs for the HSS program have risen exponentially since its inception in 2020. Then, the program cost approximately $3.25 million. In 2024, the cost was almost $92 million, and Brilliant Minds submitted over $1 million in claims. Though each state approaches housing-related services for Medicaid beneficiaries differently, clients of the programs can ask for full records of their case files if they feel their case is being mishandled, or if they're facing long wait times for responses like Lien. The Minnesota DHS also lists a number of other housing assistance programs that low-income residents can take advantage of. And at the federal level, the Housing Choice Voucher Program allows individuals to apply for a subsidy that covers part of their rent, and is paid directly to their landlord. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Business Wire
21-05-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
HSS Achieves 100% Success Rate for Sedation-Free Pediatric MRIs
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A study from Lerner Children's Pavilion at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) of nearly 2,000 children showed that pediatric MRIs were completed with a 0% sedation rate through the support of certified child life specialists (CCLS). The findings, which highlight how this innovative and noninvasive approach eliminated the need for sedation while improving care for young patients, were presented at the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) Annual Meeting. Challenges of Pediatric MRIs A typical MRI is not only loud and confining but also very sensitive to motion, requiring subjects to lie still during the 20- to 80-minute procedure, which is a major challenge for pediatric patients. Consequently, sedation is used in up to 28% of pediatric MRIs, and reports show this number is increasing. While sedation can facilitate successful imaging—and is considered relatively safe—relying on this strategy for young MRI patients poses potential risks, including cardiopulmonary issues and allergic reactions. Additionally, the combination of MRIs and sedation can cause anxiety for children and their parents and prolong recovery. Researchers found that avoiding anesthesia—and post-anesthetic recovery—through CCLS interventions improves the overall efficiency of the MRI process, benefiting both families and care teams. 'Without anesthesia, children can avoid the need for an IV, they don't need to fast prior to the MRI, and they don't need to extend their hospital-related experience to recover,' says lead study author Jessica H. Heyer, MD, pediatric orthopedic and spine surgeon at HSS. 'And from a hospital perspective, it enables children to have an MRI even when an anesthesiologist is not available.' The American Academy of Pediatrics stresses that these types of nonpharmacological interventions 'must be considered as standard procedure in infants, children, and adolescents undergoing MRI,' supporting the approach taken in this study. Benefits of Avoiding Sedation For this retrospective cohort study, HSS researchers looked at 1,936 patients between the ages of 4 and 12 who, in total, received 2,319 MRI scans over an eight-year period. They found that no child who received CCLS intervention prior to and/or during the procedure required IV sedation during MRI. Despite the study's remarkable success rate, Dr. Heyer notes that there are always exceptions: 'Sedation-free MRI may be more difficult for very young children, those who need longer scans, children with cerebral palsy, and for those who need a head, brain, or neck MRI." While all children can greatly benefit from CCLS intervention, Dr. Heyer notes that children between ages 5 and 10 appear to show the strongest results. Study co-author Melissa Collins, MS, senior child life specialist at HSS, adds that this strategy is particularly valuable for children with sensory processing issues or those with a history of negative medical experiences. 'For example, children who've been told a procedure wouldn't hurt and then were held down or experienced pain are less likely to trust medical professionals and medical environments,' she says. Effective Child Life Techniques The researchers examined several CCLS techniques, including guided imagery, distraction strategies, and caregiver involvement, but the most helpful strategy is 'appropriate preparation based on the patient's developmental age,' says Collins. 'MRI anxiety typically stems from uncertainty, so it's important to provide children with accurate expectations, so they're able to prepare and cope more effectively.' Collins suggests showing children a video of an MRI that walks them through each step and what they'll see, hear, and feel during the scan to help take away some of the fear of the unknown. 'It also helps to reiterate that nothing is going to touch them or hurt them,' she says. At the Lerner Children's Pavilion, one or both parents are always encouraged to accompany their child into the MRI suite. Children are also invited to bring a favorite soft, metal-free toy into the MRI unit and are given mirrored glasses so they can see their caregiver or the technologist behind them throughout the MRI. To celebrate their bravery, each child receives a small reward at the end of the exam. Looking Forward 'Our research demonstrates that with proper preparation and support, we can transform a potentially stressful medical procedure into a positive experience for children,' concludes Dr. Heyer. 'By reducing the need for sedation, we're not only reducing medical risks but also empowering children to actively participate in their healthcare journey, potentially making future medical encounters less intimidating.' Reference: Tracey OC, Zucker C, Wisch J, Adhiyaman A, Thakur A, Collins M, Parise J, Denneen J, Jaramillo D, Potter H, Ipp L, Heyer JH. Not Just Fun and Games: Certified Child Life Specialists Improve Success Rates of Young Children Undergoing MRI Studies without Anesthesia. Presented at: Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) Annual Meeting, 2025 Thestrup J, Hybschmann J, Madsen TW, et al. Nonpharmacological interventions to reduce sedation and general anesthesia in pediatric MRI: a meta-analysis. Hosp Pediatr. 2023;13(10):e301-e313. Accessed May 14, 2025, at Uffman JC, Tumin D, Raman V, Thung A, Adler B, Tobias JD. MRI Utilization and the Associated Use of Sedation and Anesthesia in a Pediatric ACO. J Am Coll Radiol. 2017 July;14(7):924-930. Accessed May 14, 2025, at About HSS HSS is the world's leading academic medical center focused on musculoskeletal health. At its core is Hospital for Special Surgery, nationally ranked No. 1 in orthopedics (for the 15th consecutive year), No. 3 in rheumatology by U.S. News & World Report (2024-2025), and the best pediatric orthopedic hospital in NY, NJ and CT by U.S. News & World Report 'Best Children's Hospitals' list (2024-2025). In a survey of medical professionals in more than 20 countries by Newsweek, HSS is ranked world #1 in orthopedics for a fifth consecutive year (2025). Founded in 1863, the Hospital has the lowest readmission rates in the nation for orthopedics, and among the lowest infection and complication rates. HSS was the first in New York State to receive Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center five consecutive times. An affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College, HSS has a main campus in New York City and facilities in New Jersey, Connecticut and in the Long Island and Westchester County regions of New York State, as well as in Florida. In addition to patient care, HSS leads the field in research, innovation and education. The HSS Research Institute comprises 20 laboratories and 300 staff members focused on leading the advancement of musculoskeletal health through prevention of degeneration, tissue repair and tissue regeneration. In addition, more than 200 HSS clinical investigators are working to improve patient outcomes through better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat orthopedic, rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. The HSS Innovation Institute works to realize the potential of new drugs, therapeutics and devices. The HSS Education Institute is a trusted leader in advancing musculoskeletal knowledge and research for physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, academic trainees, and consumers in more than 165 countries. The institution is collaborating with medical centers and other organizations to advance the quality and value of musculoskeletal care and to make world-class HSS care more widely accessible nationally and internationally.
