Latest news with #Salcedo
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Hospices faked patients' terminal illnesses for Medicare fraud: DOJ
Two West Covina women are facing federal charges for allegedly defrauding Medicare out of millions and paying kickbacks to those who could procure them more patients for the scheme. Normita Sierra, the 71-year-old owner of two hospices in West Covina, allegedly 'filed more than $4.8 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare – which paid more than $3.8 million on those claims – for medically unnecessary services for people not terminally ill,' the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release. Sierra (aka 'Normie') faces nine counts of health care fraud, four counts of illegal remuneration for health care referrals and a count of conspiracy. Additionally, 55-year-old Rowena Elegado (aka 'Weng') faces the illegal remuneration and conspiracy counts. Prosecutors say Sierra's Golden Meadows Hospice Inc. and D'Alexandria Hospice Inc. billed Medicare for hospice services for patients who weren't terminally ill between September 2018 and October 2022. Sierra and Elegado allegedly worked together to pay kickbacks of up to $1,300 per patient per month to recruiters who brought patients to the hospices despite 'knowing that most of those patients had not been referred by their primary care physicians for such services,' the DOJ said. Prosecutors identified two others who've already pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme: Carl Bernardo, a 53-year-old Chino resident who pleaded guilty in September to one count of accepting kickbacks and who will be sentenced on Oct. 23 Relyndo Salcedo, a 60-year-old nurse practitioner from Fontana who pleaded guilty in May to one count of health care fraud and whose sentencing is set for Nov. 20 Salcedo initially assessed potential patients for the hospice and found many ineligible, but Sierra 'made the ultimate enrollment decisions.' Sierra and Bernardo put pressure on Salcedo, who 'exaggerated and falsified the patients' conditions to make them seem terminally ill,' prosecutor said. 'Hospice physicians then relied on Salcedo's records to certify the patients as hospice appropriate,' the release explained. 'Once enrolled, those patients – who were not in fact terminally ill – rarely died, and instead were often discharged at around six months at Sierra's direction, sometimes to her home health company or the other hospice company.' Sierra and Elegado will be arraigned Tuesday afternoon in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles. If convicted, each count of health care fraud or illegal kickback carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, while conspiracy carries a sentence of up to five years. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
GMA Network
27-05-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
Central Luzon, Western Visayas bets break Palaro records in secondary boys' 400m race, discus throw
ILOCOS NORTE - Two more meet records have been shattered after rising athletes from Central Luzon and Western Visayas flaunted record-breaking performances in the 2025 Palarong Pambansa in Ilocos Norte. Central Luzon's Alfred Talplacido set the record in the secondary boys' 400m race after clocking in 48.10 seconds to break the previous 48.7 mark set by Jomar Udtohan in 2014. Talplacido also bested John Clinton Abetong of Region IV-A (CALABARZON) and Kian Labar, who bagged the silver and bronze medals after registering 48.61 and 48.92 seconds, respectively. Meanwhile, another athletics ace in Josh Gabriel Salcedo of Western Visayas-Antique likewise broke the record in the secondary boys' discus throw after posting a throw of 45.52m. Salcedo broke the 42.86m-finish of Airex Gabriel Villanueva in 2023. Silver medalist Zachary Lawig of Baguio had actually broken the previous record as well after posting 43.92m, but fell short of Salcedo winning mark. Samar's Rolando Tingzon captured the bronze with a 41.99m finish. Earlier, Bacolod bet Mico Villaran eclipsed a 15-year-old record in the secondary boys' 110m hurdles after finishing the race in 14.00 seconds. —JMB, GMA Integrated News
News.com.au
06-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- News.com.au
Man reveals toll of living on cruise ships for 25 years
A man named Mario Salcedo who has lived on cruise ships for the past 25 years revealed a bizarre health effect that he's developed from being at sea for so long. 'I've lost my land legs. I'm swaying so much I can't walk in a straight line,' the Cuban-born businessman told Conde Nast Traveler in a recent interview. 'I'm so used to being on ships that it feels more comfortable to me than being on land,' he added. Salcedo, who is nicknamed 'Super Mario' in cruise circles, recently did his 1000th voyage with Royal Caribbean. The 11-night voyage was on the 3286-passenger Explorer of the Sea which left Miami on January 5 and traveled to Panama and the southern Caribbean. MORE: Couple sell home to live on 15-year cruise Salcedo said he spends around $101,000 on cruises per year and only works about five hours a day, devoting the rest of his time to relaxing and having fun on the ship. Slacedo is ahead of his time when it comes to living at sea, having arguable helped start the trend that is seeing more and more retirees sell their homes and cars for life on a ship. Elaine Warren, the founder and CEO of The Family Cruise Companion, spoke to the Daily Mail about Salcedo losing his 'land legs' — a condition known as Mal de débarquement syndrome. 'Spending extended time on a cruise ship sounds like a dream for many families. The convenience, entertainment, and all-inclusive nature of the experience make it an attractive idea,' said Warren. MORE: True cost of living on a cruise ship revealed 'But when you shift from a vacation mindset to actually living at sea, a lot of unexpected things happen — especially to your body. 'I've spent years helping families plan cruise vacations, and while short-term trips are one thing, staying on board long-term is a different experience entirely. 'The first adjustment is to constant motion. The body adapts to the ship's movement over time, but that doesn't always mean in a good way.' Warren went on, 'many long-term cruisers find that they develop 'sea legs,' where they get so used to the ship's slight sway that walking on land feels strange. I've spoken to people who lived at sea for months, and they say that stepping back onto solid ground can be disorienting — almost like the land itself is moving.' According to the Cleveland Clinic, Mal de débarquement syndrome (MdDS) is a rare vestibular disorder that makes you feel like you're moving even when you're not. MdDS symptoms go away within 24 hours, but in some cases, they can linger for months or even years. Salcedo previously told Conde Naste Traveler that he went on his first cruise in 1997 and fell in love with life at sea. 'Nothing could lure me away from them, because I get treated like royalty,' he said about his journeys with Royal Caribbean. 'The captains all know me.'
Asharq Al-Awsat
03-05-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Peru's FM: Negotiations Underway with Saudi Arabia to Sign Bilateral Agreements by Year-End
Peru's Foreign Minister, Elmer Schialer Salcedo, revealed during his official visit to Riyadh that negotiations are progressing with Saudi Arabia to conclude several bilateral agreements before the end of 2025. The agreements include among others a general cooperation accord and a civil aviation agreement. In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Salcedo noted that his visit is part of a broader Gulf tour aimed at paving the way for a multilateral agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The Peruvian foreign minister emphasized that while relations between Peru and Saudi Arabia are strong on political, diplomatic, cultural, and tourism fronts, there is significant untapped potential in the commercial and economic realms. He expressed his intent to further deepen these ties by encouraging investment and trade between the public and private sectors of both countries. The year 2026 will mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Peru and Saudi Arabia, a milestone the Peruvian minister said would underscore the importance of reinforcing the partnership. Peru and Saudi Arabia maintain close coordination in political and diplomatic matters, as well as bilateral business, tourism, and cultural engagement. Salcedo told Asharq Al-Awsat that he hopes to expand this cooperation into energy, investment, mining, technology, and digital governance. He highlighted sectors such as oil, gas, renewable energy, telecommunications, and water desalination as areas with strong investment potential. He also reaffirmed Peru's commitment to providing equal treatment to foreign investors, a message aimed at encouraging greater Saudi involvement in the Peruvian economy. On the private sector level, Salcedo stressed the need for direct links between Peruvian and Saudi businesses, noting that many Peruvian products currently reach the Saudi market through third countries. Eliminating intermediaries would reduce costs and create more competitive opportunities for producers and consumers in both countries. The minister also commended Saudi Arabia's recent reforms to its investment laws, particularly the provisions allowing full foreign ownership, and said they present important opportunities for Peruvian businesses. Highlighting growing economic ties, Salcedo pointed to Saudi Aramco's recent expansion into South America. In March 2025, Aramco acquired Primax, a major fuel distributor operating in Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador, in a deal valued at $3.5 billion. He also noted Aramco's increased indirect stake of 17.2% in the Peru LNG project, further integrating the company into South America's liquefied natural gas market. Salcedo pointed to the strategic role of Peru's newly built Chancay Port, which he said would revolutionize logistics between South America and Asia. With automated facilities and a projected total investment of $3.6 billion across three phases, the port is expected to enhance Peru's connectivity with Asian markets and improve regional trade efficiency. Looking ahead, the official said Peru could contribute significantly to Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 goals. He highlighted his country's rich mineral resources, including copper, lithium, and rare earth elements, as key assets for Saudi investment.
Arab News
01-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Peru keen to boost agricultural, food exports to Saudi Arabia, foreign minister says
RIYADH: Peru is seeking to boost exports of agricultural and food industry products to Saudi Arabia while leveraging the tax incentives and benefits available to foreign investors, a top official said. During a meeting in Riyadh with Federation of Saudi Chambers board member Emad Sadad Al-Fakhri, Peru's Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmer Schialer Salcedo also invited investors from the Kingdom to an upcoming agricultural products exhibition scheduled for September, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Salcedo explained that while South American exports to Saudi Arabia total about $3.8 billion annually, Peru accounts for only $70 million of that sum. The newly released SPA statement said: 'Al-Fakhri briefed the Peruvian delegation on recent developments in the Saudi economy and the Kingdom's efforts to strengthen its economic partnerships, including with Peru. He underscored Saudi Arabia's competitive advantages and investment opportunities.' It added: 'Al-Fakhri also stressed the importance of enhancing bilateral cooperation between the federation and its Peruvian counterpart through signed agreements and a joint business council. He proposed increasing the exchange of trade delegations, organizing economic forums, and exploring investment prospects in sectors such as tourism, trade, and agriculture.' Peru opened an embassy in Riyadh in 2012, and the Kingdom followed suit in Lima in 2013, marking a milestone in their relations. Since then, economic and political ties have grown progressively, reflected in trade exchanges that have reached a peak of $188 million in recent years. Writing for Arab News ahead of his trip to Saudi Arabia, Salcedo said he is 'struck by how much potential lies in building bridges between our nations.' The minister highlighted opportunities for investors from the Kingdom across several sectors, adding that economic protections are 'reinforced by a legal framework that guarantees equal treatment for foreign investors and adherence to international investment protection mechanisms.' In energy, key initiatives include the petrochemical plant project, the Southern Peru Integrated Gas Transportation System, and the 2025–2034 Transmission Plan. In mining, major projects such as El Galeno and Los Chancas stand out, while infrastructure developments include the Andean Longitudinal Highway, the Ancon Industrial Park, and the Ilo Desalination Plant. These large-scale undertakings offer opportunities for Saudi investors to contribute to Peru's economic transformation while ensuring sustainable and profitable returns. 'Peru warmly welcomes Saudi businesses, investors and policymakers to discover the vast opportunities that this dynamic relationship can offer. Together, we can open new economic frontiers and lay the foundation for a future of shared prosperity, innovation and enduring cooperation,' said Salcedo.
