The Doctor Jacques Roy Health Care Fraud Indictment Document

Here's the indictment, in a sense, interesting reading.

Here's How Dr. Jacques Roy, Alleged $350 Million Medicare Bandito, Described His Medistat Group Online

It seems that Dr. "in name only" Jacques Roy has taken down his Medistat netsite, http://mistatgroup.com, perhaps because of his indictment for Medicare and medicaid fraud. Maybe the site was simply overrun with souvenir seekers, or those seeking to lowball an offer on office or personal items still unseized by federal authorities. In any event, the site's down, whether temporarily of permanently I do not know. Here's two of the messages I received when I tried to access it:

Dr. Jacques Roy, Indicted For Masterminding $350 Million Health Care Fraud, Was A Lousy Doctor To Boot!

DallasNews.com writer Brooks Egerton revealed yesterday that Jacques Roy, the Texas (by way of Quebec) doctor who stands accused of masterminding the largest Medicare/Medicaid health care fraud in U.S. history, was also an extravagantly lousy doctor. So bad that the Texas Medical Board put hims on probation from 2001 until 2006. The probationary period itself saw the good (er, "the bad") doctor ducking ad weaving while trying to subvert his probation-related limitations on practicing medicine. The board, however, ended Dr. Roy's probation early, and the reason they did so would be a subject for farce if it wasn't so true an indictment of the shocking way in which doctors protect other doctors by turning a deaf ear to malpractice. Read Ms. Egerton's excellent article below to learn just how bad a doctor Doctor Roy was, and how a combination of spousal love and the Texas Medical Board, Doctor Roy "got his groove back" . . . until he got perp walked yesterday, that is.

Texas Tea Party Express Contributor, Doctor Jacques Roy, Charged With Largest U.S. Health Care Fraud. Had Book, "Hide Your A$$et$ And Disappear"

Yesterday, Texas doctor Jacques Roy, a financial supporter of the Tea Party Express and their multimillion dollar political action committee, Our Country Deserves Better*, was arrested by federal Medicare Strike Force authorities on multiple charges that he fraudulently billed Medicare and Medicaid nearly $375 million since 2006. The indictment alleges Roy, and six others, with a scheme whereby they falsely certified more than 11,000 individuals for home health services, and then illegally billed Medicare or Medicaid.

Among other allegations, federal authorities assert that Dr. Roy and his Medistat Group Associates often employed recruiters to visit homeless shelters in search of

Gingrich's Gas Attack. He And The GOP Need Some Higher Education On Higher Education Instead

GOPers far and wide have lately noticed, and noticed, and n.o.t.i.c.e.d rising gas prices. They didn't squawk much about it when Dubya was president, but then they weren't trying to oust a president. Context has ch-ch-changed, and they're turning to face the strain - at the gas pump where they hope to refuel the GOP's faltering electoral strength. Their concern over rising prices, however, is highly selective. For example, health care cost inflation bothers them, but they prescribe solutions that will worsen it. And college cost inflation, well, Newt Gingrich noted in a November 2011 GOP Debate while discussing Pell Grants:

"It’s an absurdity. What does it do? It expands the ability of students to stay in college longer because they don’t see the cost. It actually means they take fewer semester hours on average, it takes longer on average or them to get through school. It allows them to tolerate tuition costs going up absurdly . . ."

Final Episode Of GOP Debate "Fooligan's Island" - And Now There Are Four. "Loonigan's Island, The Sequel" Premieres Nationwide Next Tuesday!

The First Fooligan's Island Debate Challenge,
May 5, 2011

Virginia Governor McDonnell, Please Bend Over. Here's An Amendment To The New Ultrasound Proposal That Ought Be Adopted . . . For Fairness' Sake

Much media attention has been paid to Virginia House of Delegates David Englin's February 13th proposed amendment to HB462, the abortive attempt by the Commonwealth to require ultrasound prior to abortions, including invasive transvaginal ultrasound. In the wake of the criticism, and hurriedly urged on by a backtracking Governor Bob McDonnell, a new bill is being considered in the Assembly. It nearly immediately passed the House of Delegates yesterday afternoon, sans some of the more offensive proposals, but it's still a draconian measure.

But, speaking of draconian, you ain't heard nothing yet . . .

Two Reasons Why Virginia Legislators Are Lying Whenever They Say They Didn't Know Transvaginal Ultrasound Was Invasive.

"[D]elegates and governor’s staff were scheduled to meet Tuesday night to strike a compromise after learning that some ultrasounds could be more invasive than first thought, according to two officials who were aware of the meeting but not authorized to speak about it publicly. Many of the bill’s supporters were apparently unaware of how invasive the procedure could be, one of the officials added." [Emphasis added]

Washington Post, 02-21-2012

That assertion of ignorance is what is formally called mendacity. Informally it's called balderdash, hogwash, and bullsh*t. Despite their pleaas of innocence, Virginia legislators were - indisputably - informed of the invasiveness of transvaginal ultrasound well in advance of their vote to approve it. Here are two reasons why their denial is, well, balderdash . . .

Get Me Out Of Arizona!: Border Wars Update

Self-Styled Editor Mike's Note: Please welcome Booktender (pictured at left), our new contributor, a resident of Arizona, which just last week celebrated its 100th anniversary as a state. AZ is, in political terms, basically Maricopa County, the red, and Tuscon County, the sorta less red, softened with sky blue. This is the state that gave us the diverse political personalities of Barry Goldwater, Gabrielle Giffords, César Chávez, Cindi McCain, and of course, King Tut. All born Arizonans, most stayed there, except, of course, King Tut who moved to Babylonia and great success, although, in the end, he gave his life for tourism. Let's not forget an Arizona dynasty, the entire Udall family, that living genetic monument to bipartisanship. They too grace Arizona's history.

We can look forward to Booktender, whenever her time permits (she actually works), keeping us abreast of that combination of sunstroke and frosty sentiment that often infuses Arizona's political and cultural life. Animated by non-Arizona born "outsiders" like Jan Brewer, the Guv; Joe Arpaio, the sheriff; and the likes of Ben Quayle, the Congressloon, Booktender has much to choose from. As you'll see, she writes with a keen eye and sympathetic ear to politics and culture. She also links a well-calibrated bullsh*t detector with a natural gift for satire. I'm so happy to have her here that, well, I can only express it by doing something you know I hate: shutting my yap . . . and letting her words speak for themselves . . .

Mit Romney's "A Tree Grows In Michigan"

He loves the trees, the lakes, the cars. Why, once he recalls tying one of Michigan's famed wolverines to the back of his tricycle on a trip to the candy store. "Boy howdy," he tells all who still will listen,

"that little critter loved that ride. Later on I

Rick Santorum's Terrible Miserable Islamic Nightmare . . . And There's More

"I feel that life is divided into the horrible and the miserable.   

That's the two categories." 

Woody Allen as Alvy Singer in Annie Hall (1977)  

-------------------------------
Sunni: "They want to reconquer the world."

Shi'a: "[T]hey are not interested in conquering the world; they are interested in destroying the world."

The "left": "But it’s not just radical Islam; it is also the radical left.

Exclusive Report: Bayer To Introduce Birth Control Aspirin Line Named "NO! NO! NO!!!"

Bayer Aspirin knows an opportunity when it sees one.  On Wednesday's Andrea Mitchell Reports, the man known as "Santorum's Billionaire," Foster Freiss, provided his alternative to costly and immoral birth control:

“Back in my day, they used Bayer aspirin for contraceptives. The gals put it between their knees and it wasn’t that costly."

Well, as we know, that comment caused a firestorm of controversy, and Mr. Santorum pretty quickly distanced himself from Mr. Freiss's statement.  Indeed, Mr. Freiss himself backed away from his own words:

"To all those who took my joke as modern day approach I deeply apologize and seek your forgiveness."

Bayer's promotional poster

Bayer Aspirin, however, understands that publicity of any kind is good for Bayer Aspirin. Last night, on the heels of Freiss's comments, Bayer announced its plan

Santorum Campaign Issues Clarification - "This Is NOT What We Meant By 'Aspirin Between The Knees'"!!

February 17, 2012, 12:15 p.m. (EST):  Just in from Santorum campaign headquarters:

"CLARIFICATION: From the Santorum campaign, Dies Iovis xvii Februarius MMII (Julian calendar) (Friday, February 17, 2012 (pagan world calendar).

Former Senator Rick Santorum's Spokebishop hereby releases this clarification:

Following Mr. Foster Freiss's pronouncement regarding Former Senator Rick Santorum's assertion of the birth control/contraceptive method the senator permits, various groups and individuals have misinterpreted his meaning.  The following image has been wrongly circulated among the people.  The campaign denounces this image.  Former Senator Santorum emphatically declares as follows,

"Hoc est non quod intelligitur cum locutus sic, 'De gals posuit inter genua.' Imaginem infra est condemnatur. Vere credere quod fidelis amonst te intelligitur bene quod vere intelligitur. " 

Here's Another Version Of "Aspirin Between The Knees" That Foster Friess Failed To Mention.

“Back in my day, they used Bayer aspirin for contraceptives. 

The gals put it between their knees and it wasn’t that costly." 

Foster Friess, on Andrea Mitchell Reports, 2-16-2012 

In a response to a question that nearl;y caused Andrea Mitchell apoplexy, Mr. Friess, Santorum's billionaire booster and benefactor, asserted that birth control for women was very inexpensive, by cracky.  All they need is an aspirin "between their knees," and, apparently, a single aspirin should be all the help you need, ever.  What's that cost?  Ten cents?

Well, since guys always want to help their gals, here's another device from back in the day that might work as well too.  Surely Mr. Friess can recall using one of these. . .

Dog On Man: Mitt Romney Handed A Stunning Triple Digit Defeat At Westminster Dog Show GOP Canine Caucus

As if he didn't have enough problems Mitt Romney lost to Newt Gingrich in the Westminster Dog Show Republican Straw Poll last night.  The canine's only GOP caucus convened immediately after the crowning of Malachy the Pekingese as best canine in show and rejected Mr. Romney, with indisputable finality.  He received no votes.

As stunning as Malachy's win was, Romney's loss was far more breathtaking, both stunning and satisfying to Republican canines who, before caucusing, had just finished competing in the world famous Westminster show, the 136th. Here's the caucus results:

DC's Weekend CPAC - A Slideshow -- CPACkers On Parade!

Last Sunday I posted OccupyDC At CPAC - Picture Slideshow, a passel of pics of CPAC Occupiers from D.C. to Philly to NYC at the Marriott Wardman in D.C. on Saturday, February 11th.  The rightest of right wing CPACkers waded in to the gathering too, often, like Occupiers, with their rhetorical boxing gloves on.  Conversations ranged from friendly to condescending, from pleasant to nearly pugilistic, on all sides.  Many simply watched.  Generally, the CPACkers were college age young, cocksure, and adorned with their trademarked bow ties (the males, at least).  Here's my collection of pics, in handy slideshow form . . .

Rick Santorum Has Big Plans For Us.

Rick Santorum's popularity has lately been intermittently rising.  He lately won a primary here and a caucus there, but finished second to Romney in this weekend's CPAC straw poll, and third in the Maine caucus, a basically rigged straw poll, and a flawed caucus.  Rigged, flawed, or not, he is now seen as a true contender by many a CPACker.  He certainly appears confident.  His self-assurance is almost palpable.  Perhaps we all ought to get ready for a Santorum presidency, packed, as he told the CPAC crowd Sunday, with . . .

Occupy DC At CPAC - Picture Slideshow

In Washington, D.C., the CPACkers were in full stride this weekend. And so was an Occupy D.C. contingent. The difference between the two groups was about the same as the difference between Gandhi and Gingrich. In any event, while at the Saturday afternoon gathering of ODCers at the Marriott Wardman, in DC's Woodley Park, I got an eyeful and heard an earful (more on that later this week).  For today, here's some pics from yesterday's Occupy CPAC.  More to come Tuesday featuring the CPACkers themselves . . .  Hope you like these! . . .

February 10 & 11 - - - Occupy CPAC

Occupy DC writes:

On February 9th through February 11th, a who’s who of dastardly politicians will be holding the Conservative Political Action Conference at the Marriot Wardman Park Hotel at 2660 Woodley Road, NW. . . Our Mission: Occupy CPAC. Create as much non-violent resistance as possible, and make this a conference the attendees will never forget . . . We will be joining in solidarity with the AFL-CIO, SEIU, National Nurses United, Metro Labor Council, OurDC, and more to make our voices heard in our increasingly top-down, money-corrupted democracy. We will have actions on Friday at noon and 5pm (for Scott Walker’s speech at the Reagan Banquet), and on Saturday we will meet at Malcolm X Park at 16th and Euclid at noon to march to the Marriott. . . [for ODC's complete article & readers' comments]

I'll be on my way now, my first ODC event. Pictures tomorrow.

Here's Occupy DC's take on the gathering:

GOP Candidate "Survivor Island" Revisited: And Now There Are Four, And One Is A Gingo . . .

The GOP candidate island is far less crowded than it was last summer (see photos below).  Now there are only four who've not been literally voted off the island.  And Rick Santorum seems to be gaining on his competitors.  Last night he surprised everyone, and no one, by winning big in three GOP battles: one meaningless primary that awarded no delegates (Missouri), and two nonbinding caucuses (Colorado, Minnesota).  Only Colorado was close, with Romney at 35% to Santorum's 40%;  in Missouri Santorum clobbered Mitt 55% to 25%.  Newt collected less than 14% in Colorado and Minnesota, the two states where he was on the ballot.  Ron Paul did pretty well, for Ron Paul, but never threatened Santorum.  So, once again, it's "go figure" time.  Who'd 'a thunk it?  Santorum.  Well, here's candidate island . . .

Komen Public Policy Director, Karen Handel Resigns. Here's Four More Suspects In The Planned Parenthood Defunding Debacle.

Karen, We Hardly Knew Ye. 

After less than a year on the job as Senior Vice President for Policy at the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Karen Handel resigned today in a bit of a huff (see her resignation letter).  She wrote she was "deeply disappointed by the gross mischaracterizations of the strategy, its rationale, and my involvement in it."  'Nuff said.   She's got moxie. 

She's been anointed the goat, as in scapegoat, for Komen's preposterous and coldly calculated policy change that, they maintained, left them no choice but to disqualify Planned Parenthood's grant status after the 2011 cycle.  That 2011 funding, by the way, was for

Primary Documents Related To Federal Court Of Appeals Overturning Of California's Proposition 8 Which Had Banned Same-Sex Marriage

Today, a federal circuit court panel overturned California’s Proposition 8, which had denied marriage to same-sex couples. . . Here are primary documents . . . Click "Read More" for today's appellate court ruling, Perry, et al v. Brown, et al . . .  see the 2010 U.S. District Court decision, Perry, et al v. Schwarzenegger, et al . . . see the oral arguments' video in Perry, et al v. Brown, et al . . . and the parties' briefs . . .

Charles Dickens: Happy 200th Birthday! What Would "Oliver Twist" Read Like Today . . .?

To the great good fortune of literature Charles Dickens was born 200 years ago.  Dickens lived in England during the mid-19th century, which like today in the U.S., was a period of extreme income inequality and a political economy whose theories supported it.  In the 1830's Dickens was a critic of the Malthus-inspired lack of public social programs to support the poor, as well as the prevailing system of work houses and debtors' prisons then in vogue.  Nowhere more, perhaps with the exception of A Christmas Carol, did he depict and underscore the plight of the poor than in his iconic Oliver Twist.  These days it serves to remind us of the hazards of laissez faire social policy driven by an unexamined and cruel social theory.  What would he write today?  Perhaps Donald Twist? 

Sneak Preview: Romney, Gingrich, Santorum, and Paul To Soon Release "Safety Net," Their First Hip Hop CD

On February 2, 2012, Mitt Romney told CNN, "I'm not concerned about the very poor; we have a safety net there. If it needs repair, I'll fix it."  The new catch phrase caught the eye of the Republican National Committee (RNC).  They quickly talked to Mitt, Newt, Rick, and Ron, the four remaining GOP primary contenders.  From that brief get together, the group “Primary GOPhers" and their first CD “Safety Net” was born! It's a new groove the RNC calls Hip Hip Hop.  Click on "Read More" for more about this, and a video sneak peek at the "Safety Net" CD cover and a little taste of Primary GOPhers Hip Hip Hop . . .

Komen Gets Goin' -- Reverses Decision To Defund Planned Parenthood. Congressional Investigation Of Planned Parenthood Will Continue, GOP Congressloon Cliff Stearns Pledges

The heat was hot, and the Komen Foundation Board and CEO felt it.  Originating largely as an online social network protest, the outcry from Planned Parenthood clients, friends, and boosters caused Komen for the Cure to today rescind its decision to cut funding for breast cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood health centers.  The $700,000 in Komen grants in 2011 funded 170,000 breast exams. 

Planned Parenthood thanked its supporters: 

Top 10 Mitt Romney Thoughts After Donald Trump's Endorsement

Today, Mitt Romney accepted Pope Donald of New York's sponsorship for President of a province in the papal realm known as the "United States of America."  Although limited in power by the New York Eminence, the United States presidency is a sought after position nonetheless.  Thus, Mr. Romney, a former provincial Governor of the United States canton of Massachusetts, was particularly overjoyed by the Pope's warm-hearted benefaction.  The scene at the Pope's Winter residence in the small city of Las Vegas in His Nevada canton was one of joy for His Eminence and Mr. Romney . . . and one of disappointment steeped in sorrow for Mr. Newt Gingrich, the other finalist in the spirited competition for Pope Donald's goodwill.  Speaking to the press corps, the Supreme Pontiff explained:

"Carissimi filii, Romneyaromo Mittando  amamus et diligimus Gingrichio Newto. Sed multo magis diligimus Mittando hodie. Newto, Newto, fili carissime, ne desperes, bene volumus! Nos aestimare quid ad te cito, cito, fortasse post primam Minnesota. Amen."  [For those whose first language is not Latin, see the official tanslation.]

Upon recovery from his overly joyful celebration, Mr. Romney was asked what were his happiest thoughts after hearing Pope Donald's endorsement and kind words. Here's what he told reporters . . .


Newt's Very Good Day: Trump Endorses Romney!

And we think we've got troubles?  Consider for a moment the plight of Mitt Romney, the once nearly presumptive 2012 GOP Presidential candidate.  Not so nearly presumptive lately despite his big win over Newt Gingrich in last Tuesday's Florida primary.  Mitt's been roughed up lately.  His comments about the "very poor" have been grist for the journalistic mill for both left and right.  From Reverend Al to Limbaugh.  Now that's bipartisan.  Added to his more and more criticized ties to Bain Capital, and his 2011 income taxes (so very reluctantly released for examination), Mitt's in a funk of decline. 

And now!  Now, when he needs a break, fer God's sake, now comes the Clown Pope of New York, Donald Trump from beneath his Las Vegas circus tent to celebrate the anointment of Mitt Romney as his favored one!  Ut serve.  For Romney, now identified more closely than ever with the upper 1% of the upper

Romney-Speak: Three Even Worse Aspects Of Mitt's Lack Of Concern About the "Very Poor"

In a fit of what can only be viewed as overconfidence after his win in the Florida primary, Mitt Romney accidentally told the truth on CNN this morning: 

"I'm not concerned about the very poor," he said.  "We have a safety net there. If it needs repair, I'll fix it." 

Being the balanced man he is, he went on to assert he wasn't concerned about the "very rich" either.  He is, however, concerned about the "middle class," that ever diminishing group he fought so hard to send on its economically downward diaspora while at Bain.  We all know the paucity of the "let's help the middle class" mantra by now, not merely for Romney but for all the Republicans. 
 
In any event, three things come to mind: 
 
1.  Romney talks of repairing the safety net, "if it needs repair."  Yet, his party has been hell

Steven Colbert Super PAC, "Americans For A Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow," Federal Election Commission Financial Disclosure Documents

Here you go!  See Colbert's note to the FEC, and the find out who his PAC contributors are. 
Can you find an entry for Jon Stewart?