| Sen. Mel Martinez wants to double Medicare fraud penalties
U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez on Tuesday trumpeted his proposal to stiffen criminal and civil penalties for people who abuse the nation's health-care system, bringing his message to South Florida, the nation's worst haven for Medicare fraud. ''In Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties we probably have three of the busiest counties in fraud in the United States by a large measure,'' the Florida Republican told reporters at Miami Dade College. He said the federal government estimates about $60 billion in Medicare fraud claims a year, including about $12 billion in Florida. ''Four million Floridians and 47 million Americans that are uninsured could all be amply insured if we just took the fraud out of the Medicare system,'' he said. Martinez, who also met with U.S.
Feminine exhibition
The Wichita Women's Fair offers three days of shopping, cooking demonstrations, beauty presentations, live music and more. This year's fair will offer 385 exhibits. Among the special features this year is the Women's Fair Fitness Challenge, a six-week challenge designed to help women make better choices about exercise and nutrition. Teams of four can sign up at the fair then make an appointment for a weigh-in at any Genesis location. Participants will have free use of the health club, including all classes and seminars, during the competition, and the winning team will receive a trip for four to Las Vegas. Dozens of exhibitors will showcase home decor ideas and products. From 1:30 to 3 p.m. Friday, the Women's Fair will sponsor a Professional Women's Workshop featuring five well-known businesswomen who will share their career insights.
DFLers advance health insurance plan
A bold plan to provide health insurance coverage for all Minnesotans through a government run program was advanced today by DFL legislators, who say they expect to wage a three or four year battle for such a system. The proposed Minnesota Health Plan was touted as the most effective way to transfer savings resulting from lower insurance overhead and other costs to provide coverage for an estimated 400,000 uninsured Minnesotans. The effort is being led largely by new House members, who say they are responding to numerous complaints about health insurance while campaigning in 2006. "Health care was either number one or number two as a primary concern," said Rep. David Bly, DFL-Northfield. The single-payer plan will compete with less dramatic proposals for health coverage reform during the upcoming legislative session.
Financier Pledges $1-Billion to Foundation; Main Goal Is to Promote ...
Peter G. Peterson, the private-equity titan, has announced plans to give at least $1-billion over the next several years through his newly created foundation, which will focus on calling public attention to threats to America's economic security. Mr. Peterson, a co-founder and the senior chairman of the Blackstone Group, in New York, and a former Secretary of Commerce during the Nixon administration, said the money will come from the nearly $1.9-billion he made in June during Blackstone's initial public offering. Mr. Peterson, who is 81, said his foundation will focus primarily on problems he says the country is facing because of the growth of federal entitlement programs, such as Medicare and Social Security; ballooning health-care costs; the increase in budget and trade deficits, low savings rates, and soaring foreign debt, all of which, Mr.
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