FEMA Pays Man for SRS/GRS!

[Shannon]

Saw this story today and had to post it here.  Apparently a man used FEMA funds for Katrina victims to pay for his sex reassignment surgery.     For the full story check out the link below. 
 
http://articles.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20060613200009990001&ncid=NWS00010000000001

What are your thoughts?

Shannon

[Dennis]

I suspect it was a woman getting SRS. As far as the source of the funds, I'm biased. I think SRS should be covered and available to people regardless of ability to pay. But then I also think that all medical needs should be. It's unfortunate that someone would resort to fraud to obtain the funds.

Dennis

[Melissa]

Fortuantely, it was only a mentioned item and not the focus of the article.  I think the vacations and alcohol were far worse things to spend money on.

Melissa

[jan c]

"This is an assault on the American taxpayer. Prosecutors ... should be looking at prosecuting these crimes and putting the criminals who committed them in jail for a long time."
(of course this was said by a Republikan. They do not pay taxes, AS I UNDERSTAND IT)

compared to what, IRAQ?
don't. get. me. started.

Honestly with the way this country has dealt with Katrina, the whole other mess, above, IRAQ, and any number of things you may not wanna hear me rant on, I say: "good job. you got some health care from the gummint, and you know they hate that."

[Melissa]

Do you think bush actually cares about his approval rating?  No, he's busy trying to abuse his power before he's thrown out of office in order to establish control even after he's not president anymore.

Melissa

[Sandi]

Having taken a couple of FEMA courses (just in case of a disaster in my area), I can say that these cases are fraud and criminal.

FEMA monetary assistance is given for a specific purpose only. The recipient must use the money to meet the need for which assistance was provided and must comply with specific regulations applicable to each type of assistance.

• If the assistance is for housing rent, it must be used only for housing rent.
• If for home repairs it can only be used only for home repairs.
• If it is for groceries it can only be used to only buy groceries
• If the assistance is in the form of a loan, it not only must be used for the stated purpose, but recipients must be judged able to pay back the loan.

However with the Katrina disaster more latitude was given on the emergency block grants that were in the amount of $2000 (I think it was). And while not specific, it was given only for emergency needs use, and was a forepayment to the specific monetary assistance provided.

In the past the government has prosecuted assistance fraud cases as well they should. I'm sure there is quite a back-log on Katrina cases.

[taylor]

How do they know what it was spent on? How do they know how to track it?  I mean if they can track it now, why in the world did fraud happen to begin with?

I am glad the individual that used it for transition did that. It is not like desperate is not a word some cannot relate to! Now my question is how did they do it with the doc having to receive the payment, did the doc not know...it is wierd to me how this even happened, and yet like I said, they can supposedly track it all now..hmmm.

Peace,
Taylor

[stephanie_craxford]

What are my thoughts... well given the apparent lack of control of these funds it's not surprising that these enterprising individuals took advantage of an inept system.  It was inevitable I guess. 

... before he's thrown out of office in order to establish control even after he's not president anymore.

And as far as Bush being "thrown out of office" wasn't that boat missed during the last Presidential election?  Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't Bush outta there anyway at the end of his current term?

Steph

[jan c]

enterprising individuals took advantage of an inept system. 

Steph

Ooh Ooh Ooh
that's good stuff Steph.

[Melissa]

What are my thoughts... well given the apparent lack of control of these funds it's not surprising that these enterprising individuals took advantage of an inept system.  It was inevitable I guess. 

And as far as Bush being "thrown out of office" wasn't that boat missed during the last Presidential election?  Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't Bush outta there anyway at the end of his current term?

Steph

I was referring to impeachment.  There definite talk about that going on.

Melissa

[stephanie_craxford]

I missed that one Melissa.  What is he going to be impeached over?

Steph

[Kimberly]

I missed that one Melissa.  What is he going to be impeached over?

Steph

^*wink* Wishfull thinking Steph?

[Chaunte]

No, George won't be impeached.  If Congress wouldn't remove Bill Clinton for lying under oath (A felony, regardless of the reason!), then Bush will serve out his last couple years.  It will depend on what happens during the November elections as to what he can do next.

FEMA worked well during 9/11.  The problem with FEMA is that it is now part of Homeland inSecurity.  My understanding is that the burocracy within Homeland is so great that it make almost impossible for FEMA to do its job.  It may also make other organizations under Homeland unable to do their jobs!

Given that FEMA is probably up to its financial eyeballs in requests, they may have an intern simply typing out checks for whatever request comes up.  No, I am not trying to excuse FEMA, but something like that could explain why these abuses are occurring.  If you know why, then you can fix it.

Homeland could work if it facilitated communication instead of being a red tape generator.

Chaunte

[Sandi]

How do they know what it was spent on? How do they know how to track it?  I mean if they can track it now, why in the world did fraud happen to begin with?

Well the way FEMA normally works is you have damages assesed and they don't cut a check until the contractor or who ever the money goes to has an estimate. The estimate is then reviewed and approved or adjusted by a FEMA claims representative. Then if memory serves (been awhile since my FEMA course) they cut the check to them, not you.

However because of the scope of Katrina they didn't operate according to normal regulations. To ward off public scorn, or maybe just to look good at election time, they issued $2000 prepaid debit cards to just about anyone claiming to be a victim.

I am sure this is where most of the fraud is. The card holders can then use them like cash, or just cash them in $200 a crack at ATM machines. The government even picks up the ATM fee. That obviously isn't enough for SRS, but makes a decent down payment.

The FEMA debit cards were a dumb idea and just asking for abuse if you ask me.

[jan c]

However because of the scope of Katrina they didn't operate according to normal regulations. To ward off public scorn, or maybe just to look good at election time, they issued $2000 prepaid debit cards to just about anyone claiming to be a victim.

so let's take an opportunity to preach to the right wing choir about the criminality of these folx, distract some less well-focused voters ONE MORE TIME, get a few licks in: /"This is an assault on the American taxpayer*. Prosecutors ... should be looking at prosecuting these crimes and putting the criminals who committed them in jail for a long time."/ for cynically taking advantage of one of the most cynical governmental administrations in US history.

ya pays yr money ya takes yr chances.

(* unlike the policies of this administration. yep.)

[jaded]

i heard about this on the radio found it very upseting