1 00:00:03,680 --> 00:00:10,479 Speaker 1: Our three Twin City's News Talk Am eleven thirty one 2 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:14,640 Speaker 1: oh three five FM streaming on. 3 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 2: The iHeartRadio app. 4 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:18,959 Speaker 1: Your Talkback's brought to you by Lindahl Realty as we 5 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:21,280 Speaker 1: broadcast from the sixty five to one carpet plus Next 6 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: Day Install studios. If you needed another example of why 7 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 1: all of what we've been talking about on the show 8 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:37,240 Speaker 1: this morning, relating to the shutdown snap benefits Supreme Court 9 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:44,159 Speaker 1: Justice rulings, activist judges rulings pay your people their snap No, 10 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:46,520 Speaker 1: you can't, now, it's against the law. If you needed 11 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:49,880 Speaker 1: another example of how all of this is pure political 12 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 1: theater perpetuated by Democrats at a time where they do 13 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 1: not have a party platform, They do not have a 14 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:00,680 Speaker 1: leader to point to, They have no voice of reason 15 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 1: out there, and the best voice of reason they have 16 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:08,280 Speaker 1: are individuals like John Fetterman. You probably haven't heard about 17 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:15,400 Speaker 1: this relating to m Health Fairview United Healthcare contract disputes. 18 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 1: This could impact some one hundred and twenty five thousand 19 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 1: patients here in Minnesota, and you're probably not even aware, 20 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 1: but if you have United Healthcare or UMR plans, this 21 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:33,920 Speaker 1: could dramatically impact you because it essentially would end up 22 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:38,720 Speaker 1: taking m health Fairview out of your in network provider 23 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:41,959 Speaker 1: and making them an out of network provider. I've been 24 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 1: down this road before, through my own fault. By the way, 25 00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:47,600 Speaker 1: I've had this circumstance happen to me. It happened in 26 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 1: a couple That happened back in twenty twenty two. They 27 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:50,760 Speaker 1: can tell you the year. 28 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 2: It happened in twenty two. 29 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 1: When I switched over a year to year, as we do. 30 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 1: At the end of the year, you have to go 31 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:00,600 Speaker 1: and choose your healthcare benefits. And I am up switching 32 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:03,560 Speaker 1: mine over to the same plan that I do every year, 33 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:06,920 Speaker 1: but that plan had changed and the one health insurance 34 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:10,160 Speaker 1: provider that I was using, or the hospital that I 35 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:13,320 Speaker 1: was using in my cardiologists and it became out of network. 36 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:16,359 Speaker 1: I didn't know until after I had some procedures done 37 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 1: and there was nothing I could do about it. And 38 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:20,680 Speaker 1: that's exactly what will happen here to some one hundred 39 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 1: and twenty five thousand patients. And yet you don't hear 40 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:25,720 Speaker 1: Walls talking about it, you don't hear Democrats talking about it. 41 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 1: And these are individuals that are going to end up 42 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 1: seeing a massive increase in their payments if this ends 43 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:38,680 Speaker 1: up taking place, and health Fairview has warned patients that 44 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:41,400 Speaker 1: if an agreement isn't reached, they will become an out 45 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:44,040 Speaker 1: of network provider for United Healthcare. As I mentioned you 46 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 1: and our plans. This would start on January first, talking 47 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 1: to Fox nine in a statement, United Healthcare's current contract 48 00:02:56,200 --> 00:03:00,120 Speaker 1: demands would force them to make difficult choices. Unfortunately, to 49 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:04,359 Speaker 1: Healthcare's current commercial contract demands that it would force Fairview 50 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:08,800 Speaker 1: to make impossible choices, cutting services, limiting access, impacting our 51 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:12,200 Speaker 1: ability to deliver on our promise to our patients and communities. 52 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 1: Fairview is demanding a more than twenty three percent price 53 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:20,200 Speaker 1: hike for commercial plans that would make it significantly more 54 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:25,080 Speaker 1: expensive than any health system in the Twin Cities. Fairview's 55 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:28,360 Speaker 1: proposal would increase health care costs by approximately one hundred 56 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 1: and twenty one million dollars, which would come out of 57 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 1: operating budgets of local employers. The current commercial contract between 58 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 1: m Health, Fairview and United Healthcare is a five year 59 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 1: agreement that ends this year. You see these types of 60 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 1: agreements in these things. They end for a lot of 61 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:49,360 Speaker 1: different people and entities. This is nothing new, but you 62 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 1: don't see any debate going on. You don't see videos 63 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 1: being posted by State Senator Aaron may Wade and cursing 64 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 1: about this, or Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan cursing about this, 65 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 1: even though it could impact some one hundred and twenty 66 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 1: five thousand patients here in Minnesota who may not even realize. 67 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 1: And you want to talk about being expensive, I mean 68 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:10,400 Speaker 1: not just in terms of what this will end up 69 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:12,280 Speaker 1: constant taking them in and out of network, but if 70 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:14,120 Speaker 1: they're in a situation where they're not aware of this, 71 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 1: and they have procedures that are scheduled and going to 72 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:20,520 Speaker 1: be done and they have to pay for those out 73 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:23,800 Speaker 1: of pocket. Because if you ever have dealt with health insurance, 74 00:04:23,839 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 1: I don't care what company you work for. Once these 75 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 1: things are they're set, man, there's no going back. Mike Hatch, 76 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 1: attorney and former Attorney General, said, what we're dealing with 77 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:41,720 Speaker 1: here is providers are in a pinch with regard to 78 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:46,000 Speaker 1: the advancements in health care that cost money. Insurers and 79 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:48,920 Speaker 1: third party administrators such as United Healthcare. 80 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:49,159 Speaker 2: Are in a pinch. 81 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:52,560 Speaker 1: Employers are in a significant pinch. Oh, and just wait 82 00:04:52,640 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 1: until paid family leave gets underway. The outcomes of The 83 00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:05,000 Speaker 1: negotiations could have direct impact on patients' health care costs 84 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:08,560 Speaker 1: and access to services. Both companies are seeking support for 85 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:11,400 Speaker 1: their positions. It remains unclear if an agreement will be 86 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:14,839 Speaker 1: reached before the contract expires and what the specific compromises 87 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 1: may be made. 88 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:18,640 Speaker 2: A better way to. 89 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:26,159 Speaker 1: Put it, stuff happens, I'm in a situation right now 90 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 1: because of this battle that's going on. 91 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 2: I just mentioned with you on a. 92 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:32,840 Speaker 1: Different level, the cardiologists that I've had the past couple 93 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 1: of years that have really become accustomed to. She knows 94 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:39,479 Speaker 1: the intricacies and the details of what it is that 95 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 1: I've been dealing with since I was thirty seven years old. 96 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:46,200 Speaker 1: She ended up having to leave because I'm with m 97 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:48,400 Speaker 1: Health Fairview. She ended up having to leave to go 98 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 1: someplace else. So now I'm forced to go in and 99 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:55,160 Speaker 1: do an extra visit with a new cardiologist just so 100 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:59,240 Speaker 1: i can get my prescriptions refilled, even though I've already 101 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:01,920 Speaker 1: met with my cardiologists this year. I've already had all 102 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:04,800 Speaker 1: my yearly testing. But now I'm going to be forced, 103 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 1: and I am being forced this Friday to go in 104 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:11,159 Speaker 1: to see a new cardiologist because my cardiologist is leaving 105 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:14,560 Speaker 1: through all of this, was is gonna cost me, you know, 106 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 1: easily even with the insurance, a couple hundred bucks for 107 00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:18,960 Speaker 1: no reason. 108 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:22,960 Speaker 2: Stuff happens, but. 109 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:27,719 Speaker 1: Only when it is politically viable for Democrats does anybody 110 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 1: ever go and give a rip. Let's go here, we 111 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:42,480 Speaker 1: were talking last hour and last week, Representative Pam Altendorth 112 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:46,520 Speaker 1: took to social media highlighting how Minnesota, over the course 113 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:49,960 Speaker 1: of a few years right around COVID saw one hundred 114 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:54,320 Speaker 1: and seventy four percent increase in SNAPA issuance. Federal SNAP 115 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:59,040 Speaker 1: issuance in Minnesota reached more than one point five billion 116 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:04,800 Speaker 1: dollars in fiscal year twenty twenty three, nearly triple the 117 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:08,839 Speaker 1: number from four years earlier. Altendorf said the size and 118 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:12,960 Speaker 1: speed of the increase should raise alarms. When you see 119 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:15,080 Speaker 1: an increase in a program expense by more than one 120 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 1: billion in four years, especially in this state, it just 121 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 1: reeks of another potential undiscovered fraud. It's time to investigate 122 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 1: why SNAP issuances rose so dramatically and who is receiving 123 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 1: these funds. Now, I'm working off of a version here 124 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:36,960 Speaker 1: from Alphinous and as we mentioned last week, you had 125 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 1: the Trump Agriculture Secretary Brook Rawlins, directing states to provide 126 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 1: detail SNAP benefits. Many states refused to, including Minnesota. Rollins 127 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:51,840 Speaker 1: said that investigators identified individuals receiving benefits in multiple states 128 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:56,240 Speaker 1: and found about five thousand deceased individuals still listed as 129 00:07:56,400 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 1: active recipients. We found one, she said, in six different 130 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:09,920 Speaker 1: states getting benefits, So who's getting all that money? Minnesota 131 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:13,440 Speaker 1: did not provide the Trump administration with the requested SNAP 132 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:18,800 Speaker 1: recipient files. According to Altendorf, states that have provided their 133 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 1: data have already uncovered fraud and corrected errors. Minnesota, she said, 134 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 1: remains in the dark. Representative Harry nisk agreed on social media, 135 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:32,320 Speaker 1: saying at this point, Minnesotan should be concerned about the 136 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:36,959 Speaker 1: ramp and fraud in every program administered by the incompetent 137 00:08:37,040 --> 00:08:41,439 Speaker 1: Walls administration. Attorney General Keith Ellison and twenty one other 138 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:46,400 Speaker 1: state attorneys filed a lawsuit in July arguing the USDA's 139 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:53,559 Speaker 1: data demand is unconstitutional. They sued Trump for asking for information, 140 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:58,960 Speaker 1: saying that it would expose some four hundred thousand Minnesotan's 141 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:02,679 Speaker 1: personal information, including social security numbers and home addresses. 142 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:03,600 Speaker 2: Listen, they know. 143 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:07,680 Speaker 1: That this lawsuit was completely frivolous, but they crafted it 144 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 1: in such a way to how and to where they 145 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:12,960 Speaker 1: can go and make an argument saying, oh, you can't 146 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:17,119 Speaker 1: trust the Trump administration social Security numbers, home addresses. 147 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 2: You never know what they're going to do. Ice may 148 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 2: show up at your door. I'm just giving some hypotheticals now. 149 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:29,320 Speaker 1: Because Pam Altendorf raised the question, it did prompt the 150 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:33,079 Speaker 1: state to respond, and on Friday they said that, oh, 151 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:36,920 Speaker 1: it was reporting errors that led to what appeared to 152 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 1: be the dramatic spike in federal food benefit payouts in 153 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 1: recent years. 154 00:09:42,160 --> 00:09:43,160 Speaker 2: So errors were made. 155 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:48,800 Speaker 1: The agency that administered the program in Minnesota issued an 156 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 1: explanation saying, according to the federal data, snap payouts nearly tripled, 157 00:09:57,040 --> 00:09:59,240 Speaker 1: jumping from ten one hundred and twenty five million to 158 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:05,400 Speaker 1: one point nine billion. Despike marked the largest jump nationwide. 159 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:08,800 Speaker 1: The nearly two billion total state about the same in 160 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:12,400 Speaker 1: twenty twenty two, before dropping by about four hundred million 161 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:15,200 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty three, the most recent year of the 162 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:21,560 Speaker 1: data was available, so the explanation. In a statement, the 163 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:25,640 Speaker 1: Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families said the DCYF 164 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:31,000 Speaker 1: has reviewed the federal reports submitted to the USDA Minnesota 165 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:38,960 Speaker 1: mistakenly included pandemic EBT in FNS DASH forty six submission, 166 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:42,400 Speaker 1: which is the basis for the numbers in the snap 167 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:47,199 Speaker 1: State Activities Report. Not only was the pandemic EBT included, 168 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:50,680 Speaker 1: it was included on two lines of the report in 169 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:54,800 Speaker 1: a way that double counted the expenditures. We look forward 170 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:58,600 Speaker 1: to revising these reports with FNS when the federal government 171 00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 1: shutdown ends. Let me stop he real quick. I'll share 172 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:05,160 Speaker 1: with you some more details from this, but I have 173 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:10,560 Speaker 1: more questions now. So if they're only just now finding it, so, 174 00:11:10,760 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 1: was money cut or was money not cut? Was money 175 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:14,439 Speaker 1: spent or was money not spent? 176 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:17,200 Speaker 2: And what other. 177 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 1: Budgets were affected based off of these errors? 178 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:25,600 Speaker 2: Doing that thing with my fingers. 179 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:30,160 Speaker 1: It seems to me that while this might be a 180 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:34,400 Speaker 1: plausible excuse, it does, as I mentioned, raise a host 181 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:37,880 Speaker 1: of other questions as to what were the unintended consequences 182 00:11:37,920 --> 00:11:40,480 Speaker 1: of these errors relating to the total budget here in 183 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:42,719 Speaker 1: the state of Minnesota. We'll get to some of your 184 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:46,679 Speaker 1: comments coming up. Oh new fraud too, company build medicaid 185 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:47,800 Speaker 1: for client it never met. 186 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:50,000 Speaker 2: I'll give you details of this coming. 187 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:51,880 Speaker 1: Up here on Twidnesday's News Talk AM eleven thirty and 188 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:58,960 Speaker 1: one h three five FM. State blames reporting errors for 189 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:08,400 Speaker 1: outside SNAP payout figures. SNAP payouts nearly tripled, jumping from 190 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:11,480 Speaker 1: about two hundred and excuse me, seven hundred and twenty 191 00:12:11,480 --> 00:12:15,800 Speaker 1: five million to one point nine billion. Spike marked the 192 00:12:15,880 --> 00:12:19,360 Speaker 1: largest jomp nationwide. Twin Cities news Talk from the sixty 193 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:22,880 Speaker 1: five to one carpet Next Day install studios and a 194 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:26,760 Speaker 1: statement the Minnesota Department of Children and Youth Families said 195 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:33,480 Speaker 1: they reviewed the federal reports and that Minnesota mistakingly included 196 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:38,240 Speaker 1: pandemic EBT in its submission, which was the basis for 197 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 1: the numbers and why they had ballooned so largely. Not 198 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:48,280 Speaker 1: only was pandemic EBT included, it was included on two 199 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:51,200 Speaker 1: lines of the report in a way that double counted 200 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:55,640 Speaker 1: those expenditures. Let's get to a few of your thoughts. 201 00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:58,800 Speaker 3: It wasn't an excuse, John, They just had to come 202 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:01,480 Speaker 3: up with enough time figure out how to make up 203 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:08,559 Speaker 3: a lie. Seventy of food stamp recipients and SNAP recipients 204 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:12,839 Speaker 3: across the United States are illegal aliens. 205 00:13:13,720 --> 00:13:15,920 Speaker 1: They went on to say, fraud, waste, and abuse is 206 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:19,480 Speaker 1: incredibly rare and snap oh. People got to be careful 207 00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:23,199 Speaker 1: with they Micchol's comments. Unfortunately, what is more common is 208 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:27,560 Speaker 1: thieves stealing benefits by skimming EBT cards at point of 209 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:29,200 Speaker 1: sale terminals they've tampered with. 210 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:32,240 Speaker 2: That's is random. We weren't talking about that. 211 00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 4: Now. 212 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:36,120 Speaker 1: They do say the reporting errors do not mean the 213 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:40,080 Speaker 1: taxpayer dollars were mistakenly doled out. It means that the 214 00:13:40,120 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 1: state incorrectly tallied the numbers. Although I do find it 215 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:47,600 Speaker 1: rather interesting the way that was worded. It doesn't necessarily 216 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:53,240 Speaker 1: mean the taxpayer dollars were mistakingly dolled out. It just 217 00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:57,160 Speaker 1: means that they were incorrectly tallied. Well, is that a guarantee. 218 00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:59,959 Speaker 2: That they weren't Those dollars weren't doled out anyway. 219 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:04,160 Speaker 5: Having been a former state employee, I'm pretty much guessing 220 00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:08,600 Speaker 5: when you asked about that was something with a check cut. 221 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:11,920 Speaker 5: I believe if it's sun two lines, it was cut twice, 222 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:15,880 Speaker 5: so two checks went out for the same money. 223 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:21,040 Speaker 1: The state said it does not know yet what the 224 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 1: correct figures are. Well, they do say they planned to 225 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 1: submit corrected figures to the Department of Agriculture, which over 226 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 1: sneeze oversees snap when the government shut down ends, as 227 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:39,640 Speaker 1: it's government shutdown is so convenient for Democrats on all 228 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:41,400 Speaker 1: of these various issues. 229 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:45,280 Speaker 2: Speaking of those here illegally, this comes from Channel five. 230 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:50,320 Speaker 1: Three Minnesotans accused of targeting and defrauding immigrants at Twin 231 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 1: Cities area churches are now facing criminal charges. Prosecutors last 232 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 1: week charge day forty eight year old Luis Baltasar Levilla 233 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:04,920 Speaker 1: Quino and forty year old Kira Milania Romero Pinto, both 234 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:08,800 Speaker 1: of Lakeville, as well as forty year old Lake Elmo 235 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:14,800 Speaker 1: resident Dennis Rigoberto Aquino Martinez. They were all charged with 236 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:20,280 Speaker 1: multiple counts of theft by swindle. Pinto faces twelve charges, 237 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:23,960 Speaker 1: easily the most of the defendants also charged with racketeering. 238 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:29,840 Speaker 1: Washington County authorities say the trio would seek out Spanish 239 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:34,040 Speaker 1: speaking immigrants at local churches, mentioned their connection to a 240 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:39,440 Speaker 1: fake attorney named Isabella Jason, and offered them legal services, jobs, 241 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:44,800 Speaker 1: and expedited citizenship in exchange for payments that totaled thousands 242 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:48,760 Speaker 1: of dollars. Court documents note that most of the victims 243 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:53,680 Speaker 1: were contacted by the defendants at churches in Invergrove Heights. 244 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:56,880 Speaker 1: And Woodbury, including a pastor in one of the cities 245 00:15:56,880 --> 00:16:00,640 Speaker 1: between twenty three and twenty five. That pastor told police 246 00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:05,560 Speaker 1: that he gave Pinto nearly thirty thousand dollars in the 247 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:09,320 Speaker 1: summer of twenty twenty four after she promised to help 248 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:15,720 Speaker 1: several members of the parish get jobs. This is another 249 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:18,800 Speaker 1: great example, and I say great from a tragic kind 250 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:22,000 Speaker 1: of way, so don't misunderstand, but it's another example of 251 00:16:22,040 --> 00:16:28,240 Speaker 1: the impacts of illegal immigration and lacks enforcement of immigration laws. 252 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:35,040 Speaker 1: If you do the compassionate thing which the Trump administration 253 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:39,480 Speaker 1: has been doing, stopping the influx of those coming into 254 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:44,400 Speaker 1: the country here here illegally across our southern border, protect 255 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:47,600 Speaker 1: our southern border to the best of our ability, you know, 256 00:16:47,720 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 1: as the United States, can do, enforce our existing immigration 257 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:54,280 Speaker 1: laws and take away the incentive of people to come 258 00:16:54,320 --> 00:16:59,200 Speaker 1: here illegally, then you have less opportunity where these individuals 259 00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:01,680 Speaker 1: are going to be taken in advantage of by the 260 00:17:01,720 --> 00:17:06,719 Speaker 1: horrible element out there. He added that on top of 261 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 1: that thirty thousand dollars, that she also offered to sell 262 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:13,480 Speaker 1: him a twelve thousand dollars golden card that would give 263 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:18,320 Speaker 1: him the ability to get to people US citizenship. Other 264 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:22,199 Speaker 1: victims paid over forty thousand dollars to help with the 265 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:28,800 Speaker 1: immigration process, which they never received. But you wonder why 266 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:34,120 Speaker 1: individuals and how an individual can fall for the email 267 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:37,120 Speaker 1: ruse of the guy in Saudi Arabia, the prince who 268 00:17:37,160 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 1: needs you to go transfer money and you can keep 269 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:41,800 Speaker 1: a portion of it. And I present to you the 270 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 1: details of this story. When the pastor realized what was 271 00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:52,280 Speaker 1: happening this past July, the charging documents state the trio 272 00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:55,160 Speaker 1: went to his church and pressured him not to tell 273 00:17:55,160 --> 00:17:59,400 Speaker 1: anybody about their scheme, threatening that they could call police or. 274 00:17:59,320 --> 00:18:00,320 Speaker 2: Ice if he did. 275 00:18:00,400 --> 00:18:06,040 Speaker 1: In total, prosecutors say the defendants defrauded at least twenty 276 00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:10,679 Speaker 1: five people of five hundred and sixty three seven hundred dollars. 277 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:18,200 Speaker 1: Each count faces a maximum sentence of at least ten 278 00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 1: years in prison. Thank goodness they were caught in Washington 279 00:18:22,119 --> 00:18:25,640 Speaker 1: County and not Hennepin County, because Mary Moriarty probably would 280 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:29,960 Speaker 1: already have him out on the streets. Your talk back 281 00:18:29,960 --> 00:18:31,840 Speaker 1: of the day brought to you by Minnie Leaf coming 282 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:34,320 Speaker 1: up in just a moment here on Twin Cities News Talk, 283 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:38,160 Speaker 1: and I have an article out of the Minneapolis Times. 284 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:43,600 Speaker 1: Some parts of Minneapolis really do have crime. I'm gonna 285 00:18:43,600 --> 00:18:47,159 Speaker 1: share with you the details from this. I cannot even 286 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:52,800 Speaker 1: imagine living life the way that some people have to 287 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:56,919 Speaker 1: in the city of Minneapolis, and yet they continue to 288 00:18:57,000 --> 00:19:00,199 Speaker 1: elect the same individuals over and over again. It's all 289 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:02,720 Speaker 1: coming up on Twin City's News Talk. Don't go anywhere. 290 00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:10,240 Speaker 2: The Democrats is. 291 00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:14,600 Speaker 4: They took crime off the front page of every newspaper, 292 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:19,200 Speaker 4: that was the story, and they turned it into healthcare. 293 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:27,080 Speaker 1: That was MSNBC's Morning Joe. 294 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:28,280 Speaker 2: Speaking truth for once. He's absolutely right. 295 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:32,600 Speaker 1: Everything that we've been dealing with for the past forty 296 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:37,360 Speaker 1: days has been nothing but political theater perpetuated by Democrats 297 00:19:37,359 --> 00:19:42,640 Speaker 1: to sow chaos and discord. I listen, to a certain extent, 298 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:48,160 Speaker 1: it worked. They had some electoral success last week. Caused 299 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:52,880 Speaker 1: a lot of confusion and panic, offered opportunities for individuals 300 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:57,720 Speaker 1: to take to social media, like Senator Aaron make Way 301 00:19:57,880 --> 00:20:00,320 Speaker 1: to go and comment on the issue here on Twin 302 00:20:00,320 --> 00:20:02,800 Speaker 1: Cities News Talk as we continue our broadcast from the 303 00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:05,200 Speaker 1: sixty five to one carpet Next Day Install Studios. 304 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:08,400 Speaker 6: I don't generally make videos with advice for national Democrats 305 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:10,560 Speaker 6: because the ones that I talk to that I'm close to, 306 00:20:10,560 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 6: that I can influence, like I tell them, probably, and. 307 00:20:13,240 --> 00:20:14,200 Speaker 2: Then the ones that I could like. 308 00:20:14,119 --> 00:20:15,440 Speaker 6: Talk to in the public, they don't give you what 309 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:19,920 Speaker 6: i'd say, But I will say that if we did 310 00:20:19,920 --> 00:20:24,400 Speaker 6: a whole shut down to extend the ACA subsidies and 311 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:28,040 Speaker 6: then all you get is a promise to take a 312 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:32,280 Speaker 6: vote on it, that's insane, Like it's actually insane. 313 00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:35,800 Speaker 2: So I don't know, like not groundbreaking. 314 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:40,280 Speaker 1: But what the got to thank leftists of MN on 315 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:42,919 Speaker 1: X for providing that clip. 316 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:44,720 Speaker 2: I almost feel bad for Aaron May Wait. 317 00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:46,800 Speaker 1: I didn't realize it the first time, and now that 318 00:20:46,840 --> 00:20:50,600 Speaker 1: I listened back to it, maybe she wasn't aware that 319 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:53,640 Speaker 1: it was all political theater and actually thought that Democrats 320 00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:58,320 Speaker 1: in DC legitimately cared about extending the ACA benefits. 321 00:20:57,880 --> 00:21:02,880 Speaker 2: Because they never really did listen. That's on her if 322 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:03,440 Speaker 2: that's the case. 323 00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:06,480 Speaker 1: The same thing goes with Lieutenant Governor Peggy flanagain. 324 00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:07,080 Speaker 2: Hey, so the. 325 00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:12,080 Speaker 7: Fact that a handful of Democratic senators just walked away 326 00:21:12,160 --> 00:21:16,720 Speaker 7: from a fight we were winning to keep healthcare costs 327 00:21:16,760 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 7: from skyrocketing for millions of Americans and capitulating to Donald 328 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:24,520 Speaker 7: Trump and Congressional Republicans. 329 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:27,040 Speaker 2: It sucks, and we. 330 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:32,280 Speaker 7: Deserve so much more, especially when we saw victories up 331 00:21:32,359 --> 00:21:37,080 Speaker 7: and down the ballot all across the country. People were 332 00:21:37,119 --> 00:21:41,320 Speaker 7: with us, and then this is not okay. So it 333 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:44,720 Speaker 7: is time for you to pick your fighter. 334 00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:46,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, and your fighter guys. 335 00:21:46,240 --> 00:21:50,520 Speaker 7: Accordingly, because we deserve so much more than this. 336 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:51,359 Speaker 4: Boot. 337 00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:56,200 Speaker 1: Also on a second pass through that I just didn't 338 00:21:56,280 --> 00:21:57,480 Speaker 1: pick up on this last time. 339 00:21:57,520 --> 00:22:00,719 Speaker 2: But the way she framed the. 340 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:03,199 Speaker 1: The elections last week, I mean, it was only a 341 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:04,159 Speaker 1: handful of races. 342 00:22:04,240 --> 00:22:09,280 Speaker 2: It wasn't There wasn't like, this wasn't a massive election. 343 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:12,080 Speaker 1: It doesn't matter, all right, I don't want to get 344 00:22:12,119 --> 00:22:14,879 Speaker 1: too far behind here. We do have to get to 345 00:22:14,920 --> 00:22:16,399 Speaker 1: your talkback of the day. Your talk Back of the 346 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:18,439 Speaker 1: day is brought to you by Mini Leaf am I 347 00:22:18,640 --> 00:22:23,040 Speaker 1: n ny L eaf on dot com. Fantastic products available 348 00:22:23,040 --> 00:22:25,880 Speaker 1: at the website, including the night Gummies. I swear by 349 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:30,159 Speaker 1: those getting me to sleep quickly and soundly throughout the evening. 350 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:33,400 Speaker 1: Absolute game changer, and they do give you your talkback 351 00:22:33,680 --> 00:22:34,640 Speaker 1: of the day. 352 00:22:35,359 --> 00:22:38,480 Speaker 3: Morning, John, Let's not forget to wish the United States 353 00:22:38,560 --> 00:22:41,119 Speaker 3: Marine Corps a happy two hundred and fiftieth birthday today. 354 00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:45,000 Speaker 1: Absolutely happy birthday, and thank you for the talkback. This 355 00:22:45,119 --> 00:22:49,199 Speaker 1: morning again brought to you by minileafanminileaf dot com. We 356 00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:52,160 Speaker 1: do have a runner up that came in from overnight 357 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:53,360 Speaker 1: from friend of the show. 358 00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:57,200 Speaker 4: Ben John, Ben and Rochester here got a small bone 359 00:22:57,240 --> 00:22:59,280 Speaker 4: to pick with you. I'd say, don't play it on 360 00:22:59,359 --> 00:23:02,480 Speaker 4: the radio, but maybe you should because you haven't talked 361 00:23:02,480 --> 00:23:06,560 Speaker 4: about the Embark series recently, and I dove into it 362 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:09,320 Speaker 4: because I've listened to you over the years, and I 363 00:23:09,359 --> 00:23:09,880 Speaker 4: got to tell. 364 00:23:09,800 --> 00:23:11,320 Speaker 2: You I love the series. Oh thank you. 365 00:23:11,800 --> 00:23:15,359 Speaker 4: But this idea that selling books is hard doesn't match. 366 00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:19,120 Speaker 4: I went back to buy the second one and accidentally 367 00:23:19,160 --> 00:23:21,679 Speaker 4: about the eighth, which means I bought the eighth in 368 00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:23,400 Speaker 4: the second is selling books hard? 369 00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:26,120 Speaker 1: Well, if everybody goes and makes mistakes like Ben, then 370 00:23:26,160 --> 00:23:28,000 Speaker 1: selling books would be a heck of a lot easier 371 00:23:29,480 --> 00:23:30,399 Speaker 1: technically speaking. 372 00:23:30,440 --> 00:23:31,720 Speaker 2: And I'm going to go there. Thank you, Ben. 373 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:34,479 Speaker 1: I'm really glad you enjoyed the series. I am the 374 00:23:34,520 --> 00:23:38,679 Speaker 1: worst salesperson ever, and selling books is hard. This is 375 00:23:38,680 --> 00:23:41,000 Speaker 1: why I will never work in sales, because I'm just 376 00:23:41,040 --> 00:23:44,080 Speaker 1: really bad at it. There isn't an eighth book in 377 00:23:44,119 --> 00:23:46,840 Speaker 1: the series. What Ben ended up purchasing was There is 378 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:50,320 Speaker 1: an ebook box set of all seven of the books 379 00:23:50,760 --> 00:23:52,520 Speaker 1: that are available for a discount of price. 380 00:23:52,600 --> 00:23:55,000 Speaker 2: That is book eight in the series. There's only seven 381 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:57,280 Speaker 2: books in the series, but that's the eighth book. I 382 00:23:57,320 --> 00:24:00,560 Speaker 2: got you There you go, Sandwich very confused in the 383 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:03,480 Speaker 2: studio next door. So all right, let's go here to 384 00:24:03,520 --> 00:24:06,480 Speaker 2: Cara Levin. Keep in mind. 385 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:11,480 Speaker 1: The level of concern that you hear from all these 386 00:24:11,520 --> 00:24:16,480 Speaker 1: democrats regarding individuals not getting their snap benefits, the shut down, 387 00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:20,800 Speaker 1: people in need being taken advantage of the healthcare subsidies. 388 00:24:21,080 --> 00:24:23,720 Speaker 1: And yet how much fraud have we covered in the 389 00:24:23,760 --> 00:24:27,800 Speaker 1: course of this year alone on the show, estimates of 390 00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:30,840 Speaker 1: six billion dollars. You don't see the videos going up 391 00:24:30,840 --> 00:24:35,399 Speaker 1: from flannagain or from Quaid, or comments from walls worried 392 00:24:35,440 --> 00:24:40,480 Speaker 1: about what's happening, and yet all these stories still continue. 393 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:44,879 Speaker 1: They only care when they can use it for politics. 394 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:45,199 Speaker 2: That's it. 395 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:49,000 Speaker 1: What started as a routine check of her medicaid billing 396 00:24:49,040 --> 00:24:55,159 Speaker 1: turned into a shocking discovery for Erna Hammered Schmidt. The 397 00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:59,639 Speaker 1: Minnesota woman had rebuilt her life after a prolonged battle 398 00:24:59,720 --> 00:25:03,560 Speaker 1: with addiction, only to find her name being used to 399 00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:08,119 Speaker 1: commit what she calls is fraud. Ernest said, I was 400 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:11,359 Speaker 1: looking at my claims and I saw a company called 401 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:14,440 Speaker 1: Community Care Partners in there, and I was like, who 402 00:25:14,440 --> 00:25:19,080 Speaker 1: were these people? The company she'd never heard of or 403 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:24,560 Speaker 1: met with, was billing her Medicaid insurance coverage provided through 404 00:25:24,600 --> 00:25:29,280 Speaker 1: you Care one hundred and eighty nine dollars multiple times 405 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:36,040 Speaker 1: a week, claiming to have provided adult rehabilitative mental health services. 406 00:25:36,640 --> 00:25:36,840 Speaker 4: Now. 407 00:25:36,840 --> 00:25:41,680 Speaker 1: The ARMHS is a program overseen by the unbattled Minnesota 408 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:46,159 Speaker 1: Department of Human Services, already facing sharp criticism for failing 409 00:25:46,200 --> 00:25:50,600 Speaker 1: to prevent wide spread fraud and taxpayer funded programs designed 410 00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:54,600 Speaker 1: to help people battling addiction and homelessness. You know, a 411 00:25:54,680 --> 00:25:57,439 Speaker 1: real governor would have just completely upended DHS at this 412 00:25:57,480 --> 00:26:00,679 Speaker 1: point in time and replaced every single person in it. 413 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:06,080 Speaker 2: A real leader would. If that's not what we have 414 00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:07,159 Speaker 2: in Governor Tim Walls. 415 00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:14,600 Speaker 1: The ARMHS program provides a range of services to help 416 00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:21,800 Speaker 1: individuals develop and enhance psychiatric stability, social competencies, personal and 417 00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:27,359 Speaker 1: emotional adjustment, and independent living and community skills. Every single 418 00:26:27,440 --> 00:26:32,120 Speaker 1: one of these programs, they just have these incredibly broad, 419 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:37,720 Speaker 1: nuanced language relating to what they provide, which pretty much 420 00:26:37,760 --> 00:26:40,240 Speaker 1: means they can justify providing anything and billing for it 421 00:26:42,359 --> 00:26:46,480 Speaker 1: now when it comes to Erna Hammerschmidt, two years sober, 422 00:26:47,160 --> 00:26:50,760 Speaker 1: Proud to be a success a story of Minnesota's publicly 423 00:26:50,760 --> 00:26:56,199 Speaker 1: funded rehabilitation and Housing Stabilization Services program, which helped her 424 00:26:56,280 --> 00:26:59,159 Speaker 1: findable stability and a home. So she would have been 425 00:26:59,160 --> 00:27:03,040 Speaker 1: one of the few individual rules that actually successfully took 426 00:27:03,080 --> 00:27:07,000 Speaker 1: advantage of a program that no longer exists because it 427 00:27:07,119 --> 00:27:11,040 Speaker 1: was almost one hundred percent fraud. Apart from Erna, apparently, 428 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:19,800 Speaker 1: she watched with concern as the investigations exposed a seemingly 429 00:27:20,119 --> 00:27:23,680 Speaker 1: endless case of alleged fraud in these programs that. 430 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:25,760 Speaker 2: Helped her throughout her recovery journey. 431 00:27:26,400 --> 00:27:29,120 Speaker 1: The HSS program that found her a place to live 432 00:27:29,320 --> 00:27:32,240 Speaker 1: was completely terminated last week. As I mentioned, the state 433 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:34,640 Speaker 1: decided that they were unable to prevent fraud and could 434 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:37,400 Speaker 1: not afford to wait to see if the legislative reforms 435 00:27:37,680 --> 00:27:40,600 Speaker 1: and the new program integrity measures would be effective. She 436 00:27:40,760 --> 00:27:43,760 Speaker 1: not alone in questioning the alleged to ghost of billing 437 00:27:43,840 --> 00:27:47,720 Speaker 1: by the arm HS providers easier way for me to 438 00:27:47,720 --> 00:27:53,679 Speaker 1: say it. Caro Levin recently exposed similar allegations of billing 439 00:27:53,760 --> 00:27:57,360 Speaker 1: fraud involving another company called Action Therapy LLC. 440 00:27:57,600 --> 00:27:59,000 Speaker 2: That sounds totally legit. 441 00:28:04,119 --> 00:28:09,000 Speaker 1: Their billing, said Mohammad Ali, who spotted thousands of dollars 442 00:28:09,000 --> 00:28:13,360 Speaker 1: in charges on his Medicaid account. Never been there before, 443 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:17,160 Speaker 1: never even heard of it. So who are Community Care Partners? 444 00:28:17,680 --> 00:28:21,200 Speaker 1: Charge after charge, week after week, month after month earned 445 00:28:21,280 --> 00:28:26,160 Speaker 1: his Medicaid insurance had been billed repeatedly by Community Care Partners, 446 00:28:26,520 --> 00:28:31,160 Speaker 1: supposedly for providing the arms HS. The inside the building 447 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:34,760 Speaker 1: sweet three twelve, there were small signs taped to the 448 00:28:34,760 --> 00:28:36,639 Speaker 1: door in a mailbox with the company's name, but no 449 00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:42,200 Speaker 1: people during regular business hours. No one answered the door. Online, 450 00:28:42,240 --> 00:28:45,600 Speaker 1: the company's website looked equally hollow. Eate me to our team, 451 00:28:45,800 --> 00:28:49,840 Speaker 1: doing nothing with my fingers page contained no actual names 452 00:28:49,920 --> 00:28:53,360 Speaker 1: or photos, just a line reading find us at your 453 00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:58,920 Speaker 1: working location. According to records posted by the Minnesota Secretary 454 00:28:58,960 --> 00:29:03,040 Speaker 1: of State's website, registered manager was a woman named Muna Mohammed. 455 00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:06,680 Speaker 1: When contacted by Kara Levin, Muna Mohammad said she was 456 00:29:06,680 --> 00:29:09,720 Speaker 1: no longer affiliated with the business and sold it in 457 00:29:09,760 --> 00:29:12,600 Speaker 1: December of twenty twenty three. She provided Care eleven a 458 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:16,520 Speaker 1: copy of the sales records confirming that Community Care Partners 459 00:29:16,560 --> 00:29:19,200 Speaker 1: had been purchased for sixty thousand dollars by a group 460 00:29:19,560 --> 00:29:26,640 Speaker 1: of three buyers. You had Habit Sharif Musab Abu dhal 461 00:29:26,800 --> 00:29:31,560 Speaker 1: Kadir and Mohammad Mohammad. The ownership change took place before 462 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:35,160 Speaker 1: the suspicious billings. Earned A discovered when she reviewed her 463 00:29:35,200 --> 00:29:37,880 Speaker 1: insurance claims. Records show her billings were part of a 464 00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:42,440 Speaker 1: dramatic increase in the company's overall Medicaid charges. I mean listen, rinse, 465 00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:46,280 Speaker 1: you know, lather, rinse, repeat on all of these different 466 00:29:46,280 --> 00:29:53,280 Speaker 1: fraud charges State Medicate Medicaid Billing data obtained through the 467 00:29:53,320 --> 00:29:56,920 Speaker 1: investigation and an open records request revealed that after the sale, 468 00:29:57,000 --> 00:30:02,920 Speaker 1: the company immediately experienced explode financial growth. It shows the 469 00:30:02,920 --> 00:30:03,880 Speaker 1: Community Care. 470 00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:06,320 Speaker 2: Partners charged arm HS. 471 00:30:06,720 --> 00:30:10,040 Speaker 1: Twenty thousand dollars in twenty twenty two, ten thousand dollars 472 00:30:10,040 --> 00:30:13,080 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty three, but in twenty twenty four, after 473 00:30:13,120 --> 00:30:18,400 Speaker 1: the sale, the billing skyrocketed seven thousand percent to more 474 00:30:18,440 --> 00:30:25,760 Speaker 1: than seven hundred and eighteen thousand dollars average. Sam, you 475 00:30:25,760 --> 00:30:28,720 Speaker 1: want to go partners in on a on a healthcare 476 00:30:28,760 --> 00:30:34,320 Speaker 1: services program. I think I'll pass, but knock yourself out 477 00:30:34,640 --> 00:30:45,680 Speaker 1: J and S Action Therapy LLC. Oh my gosh, in 478 00:30:45,760 --> 00:30:49,120 Speaker 1: at least Irma Hammerschmid's case, it was tax dollars paid 479 00:30:49,120 --> 00:30:52,800 Speaker 1: to a company for imaginary services. What you're doing is 480 00:30:52,840 --> 00:30:57,040 Speaker 1: not morally or ethically okay. Ernest said, you can't just 481 00:30:57,120 --> 00:31:01,000 Speaker 1: build people and make money off them and look at 482 00:31:01,080 --> 00:31:02,520 Speaker 1: them like a paycheck. 483 00:31:03,800 --> 00:31:05,520 Speaker 2: Caro Levin submitted questions to the. 484 00:31:05,560 --> 00:31:08,920 Speaker 1: To DHS whether Community Care Partners was under investigation and 485 00:31:08,960 --> 00:31:12,040 Speaker 1: whether they were being allowed to continue building the States 486 00:31:12,360 --> 00:31:16,040 Speaker 1: Medicaid programs. The department did not directly answer the questions, 487 00:31:17,160 --> 00:31:20,200 Speaker 1: but send a statement in part saying DHS it's expanding 488 00:31:20,200 --> 00:31:23,000 Speaker 1: its use of data analytics to look at trends and 489 00:31:23,200 --> 00:31:25,280 Speaker 1: outliers in provider billing. 490 00:31:25,360 --> 00:31:27,440 Speaker 2: They went on to say a whole bunch of other stuff. 491 00:31:27,600 --> 00:31:30,960 Speaker 2: Fascinating to talk, Yeah, exactly sortly. 492 00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:35,040 Speaker 1: Thereafter, Governor Tim Walls announced that in order to better 493 00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:37,840 Speaker 1: catch the fraud on the front end, as we've talked 494 00:31:37,840 --> 00:31:40,720 Speaker 1: about on the show, DHS run Medicaid programs will be 495 00:31:40,760 --> 00:31:44,760 Speaker 1: subject to third party billing audits before payments are issued. 496 00:31:44,760 --> 00:31:48,800 Speaker 2: Maybe you should have been doing that in the first place. 497 00:31:51,960 --> 00:31:58,280 Speaker 1: Might have been a good idea. And with all of 498 00:31:58,320 --> 00:32:02,560 Speaker 1: this too, this is only the stuff that we've discovered. 499 00:32:06,960 --> 00:32:09,840 Speaker 1: I mean, how many other programs out there. I mean, 500 00:32:09,880 --> 00:32:12,400 Speaker 1: which program isn't filled with fraud at this point in time. 501 00:32:12,640 --> 00:32:14,080 Speaker 2: It's across the board. 502 00:32:14,560 --> 00:32:16,560 Speaker 1: I mean, whether you're looking at these programs that are 503 00:32:16,600 --> 00:32:22,360 Speaker 1: straight up stealing from taxpayers through these different government programs, Medicaid, DHS, 504 00:32:22,400 --> 00:32:25,120 Speaker 1: turning a blind eye not caring, or the story that 505 00:32:25,160 --> 00:32:28,040 Speaker 1: we had earlier of individuals out there taking advantage of 506 00:32:28,080 --> 00:32:33,080 Speaker 1: the illegal immigrant community and pastors at churches. It's almost 507 00:32:33,120 --> 00:32:36,160 Speaker 1: like we have this systemic problem relating to fraud. 508 00:32:35,920 --> 00:32:39,720 Speaker 2: Here in the state of Minnesota. 509 00:32:40,600 --> 00:32:43,440 Speaker 1: Turning our attention over to the City of Minneapolis. Just 510 00:32:43,480 --> 00:32:46,600 Speaker 1: as an update from the election results from last week, 511 00:32:46,640 --> 00:32:50,640 Speaker 1: the progressive wing of the Minneapolis City Council will keep 512 00:32:50,720 --> 00:32:54,280 Speaker 1: its majority, but lose its ability to override the mayor's 513 00:32:54,360 --> 00:32:58,640 Speaker 1: vetos in his next term. The political makeup of the 514 00:32:58,680 --> 00:33:03,120 Speaker 1: incoming colouncil will likely allow Mayor Jacob Fry to avoid 515 00:33:03,160 --> 00:33:05,880 Speaker 1: the kind of pushback on his power that shaped the 516 00:33:05,960 --> 00:33:08,400 Speaker 1: last two years the progressive arm. 517 00:33:08,560 --> 00:33:10,400 Speaker 2: Working off of a story here from Fox nine. 518 00:33:10,600 --> 00:33:13,440 Speaker 1: The progressive arm of the Minneapolis City Colouncil lost a 519 00:33:13,600 --> 00:33:17,280 Speaker 1: seat last week when the incumbent Katie Cashman lost her 520 00:33:17,320 --> 00:33:21,240 Speaker 1: re election bid in Ward seven to newcomer and moderate 521 00:33:21,360 --> 00:33:25,600 Speaker 1: Elizabeth Schaeffer. The loss of a progressive voice leaves that 522 00:33:25,720 --> 00:33:29,360 Speaker 1: wing of the clouncil without the ability to override the 523 00:33:29,400 --> 00:33:30,720 Speaker 1: mayor ol Vito Well. 524 00:33:30,760 --> 00:33:33,120 Speaker 2: Listen, that assumes that Schaeffer doesn't. 525 00:33:32,840 --> 00:33:38,160 Speaker 1: Cave to the radical socialists, which the other non DSA 526 00:33:38,360 --> 00:33:41,760 Speaker 1: endorsed candidates have all done in the past. You know, 527 00:33:42,040 --> 00:33:45,400 Speaker 1: is Elizabeth Shafer Schaeffer going to buck the current trend 528 00:33:45,760 --> 00:33:48,240 Speaker 1: and that is going out to the public acting like 529 00:33:48,280 --> 00:33:51,760 Speaker 1: you're a more moderate Democrat, showing your concern over what's 530 00:33:51,800 --> 00:33:55,960 Speaker 1: been taking place in Minneapolis, only to get elected and 531 00:33:56,000 --> 00:33:58,360 Speaker 1: then to go and just vote in lockstep with a 532 00:33:58,400 --> 00:34:02,160 Speaker 1: hard core left radical socialists. 533 00:34:04,160 --> 00:34:04,960 Speaker 2: I'm certainly not. 534 00:34:04,960 --> 00:34:08,520 Speaker 1: Holding my breath on that particular issue. I mean, it's 535 00:34:08,680 --> 00:34:10,960 Speaker 1: nice of Fox and nine to assume that they've lost 536 00:34:11,000 --> 00:34:15,440 Speaker 1: their radical majority, but again, I just simply have no 537 00:34:15,560 --> 00:34:18,480 Speaker 1: faith or trust in any Democrat politician right now, to 538 00:34:18,520 --> 00:34:26,759 Speaker 1: tell the truth. A string of breaking thefts over the 539 00:34:26,760 --> 00:34:29,920 Speaker 1: weekend left dozens of people with a headache and a 540 00:34:29,920 --> 00:34:34,960 Speaker 1: bill in Minneapolis's Lowry Hill neighborhood some residents are calling 541 00:34:34,960 --> 00:34:38,280 Speaker 1: on city leaders to take more action to address the issue. 542 00:34:38,520 --> 00:34:41,440 Speaker 1: Residents in the area said it feels like nothing is 543 00:34:41,480 --> 00:34:43,720 Speaker 1: being done to stop the break ins because people rarely 544 00:34:43,719 --> 00:34:44,160 Speaker 1: get caught. 545 00:34:44,160 --> 00:34:47,280 Speaker 2: It just keeps happening. At about two or three. 546 00:34:47,080 --> 00:34:49,960 Speaker 1: In the morning, I heard a car alarm alarms going off, 547 00:34:49,960 --> 00:34:55,840 Speaker 1: so I looked outside, said Krishna u Varjah, who lives nearby. 548 00:34:56,000 --> 00:34:59,120 Speaker 1: When she stepped outside, she saw dozens of car windows 549 00:34:59,160 --> 00:35:03,880 Speaker 1: smashed along Fremont Avenue South, with a trail of shattered 550 00:35:03,920 --> 00:35:08,920 Speaker 1: glass lining the street. Minneapolis Police say they responded to 551 00:35:08,960 --> 00:35:12,600 Speaker 1: the property damage call around five forty five am after 552 00:35:12,640 --> 00:35:16,879 Speaker 1: finding several vehicles in the area with broken windows. All 553 00:35:16,960 --> 00:35:19,960 Speaker 1: the way down to the church, every single window was 554 00:35:20,040 --> 00:35:24,640 Speaker 1: bust out, said Christina Sward, who lives in the neighborhood. 555 00:35:25,760 --> 00:35:27,719 Speaker 2: Back in November, more than one hundred. 556 00:35:27,520 --> 00:35:30,520 Speaker 1: Vehicles were damaged across the city, with the thieves taking 557 00:35:30,600 --> 00:35:33,040 Speaker 1: valuables from inside. I mean, was anything even stolen or 558 00:35:33,160 --> 00:35:41,440 Speaker 1: was just just random violence taking place? Minneapolis Times has 559 00:35:41,480 --> 00:35:43,040 Speaker 1: this piece I want to share. It's a lengthy piece. 560 00:35:43,080 --> 00:35:45,400 Speaker 1: I just want to share with you some some of 561 00:35:45,440 --> 00:35:46,319 Speaker 1: the details from it. 562 00:35:46,400 --> 00:35:46,759 Speaker 2: I just. 563 00:35:49,320 --> 00:35:51,120 Speaker 1: You know, what's going on, but when you hear it 564 00:35:51,200 --> 00:35:55,880 Speaker 1: happen firsthand, it's it's it's stunning to read and to 565 00:35:56,000 --> 00:35:56,480 Speaker 1: listen to. 566 00:35:58,200 --> 00:35:59,200 Speaker 2: In your neighborhood. 567 00:35:59,320 --> 00:36:02,640 Speaker 1: Have you ever kept a can on your front porch 568 00:36:03,400 --> 00:36:09,000 Speaker 1: to deposit the needles found on the street? The title 569 00:36:09,040 --> 00:36:11,920 Speaker 1: of this for the Minneapolis Times is some parts of 570 00:36:11,960 --> 00:36:17,200 Speaker 1: Minneapolis really do have crime, asking do you have a 571 00:36:17,239 --> 00:36:20,520 Speaker 1: can to deposit needles you found? Have you ever had 572 00:36:20,560 --> 00:36:23,920 Speaker 1: a conversation with a neighbor on best to practices on 573 00:36:24,000 --> 00:36:27,080 Speaker 1: how to keep drug dealers from congregating in front of 574 00:36:27,120 --> 00:36:31,880 Speaker 1: your house? A sprinkler going in the going in the 575 00:36:31,920 --> 00:36:36,319 Speaker 1: summer that reaches out onto the sidewalk works when you 576 00:36:36,440 --> 00:36:41,160 Speaker 1: leave town? Do you worry your house or garage will 577 00:36:41,200 --> 00:36:44,279 Speaker 1: be invaded if you park on the street. Are you 578 00:36:44,400 --> 00:36:47,000 Speaker 1: nervous every time you approach your car because you may, 579 00:36:47,400 --> 00:36:50,000 Speaker 1: as you have in the past, find the passenger side 580 00:36:50,040 --> 00:36:53,160 Speaker 1: window busted and your glove compartment rifle through, as we 581 00:36:53,160 --> 00:36:54,759 Speaker 1: were just talking about in Lowry Hill. 582 00:36:56,040 --> 00:36:59,640 Speaker 2: If you have lived near an encampment, have you at. 583 00:36:59,600 --> 00:37:03,480 Speaker 1: Times had to shovel up human waste in your driveway 584 00:37:04,000 --> 00:37:08,200 Speaker 1: or had your garbage containers tagged by the city for 585 00:37:08,320 --> 00:37:12,680 Speaker 1: inappropriate waste for which you were not responsible. Have you 586 00:37:12,680 --> 00:37:14,920 Speaker 1: been told over the phone by a service person that 587 00:37:14,960 --> 00:37:19,480 Speaker 1: they do not send their installers to your area? Have 588 00:37:19,600 --> 00:37:22,320 Speaker 1: you been menaced by a drug dealer? Have you witnessed 589 00:37:22,320 --> 00:37:26,600 Speaker 1: the horrors of addiction on the street? Users walking by, 590 00:37:26,840 --> 00:37:30,239 Speaker 1: bent over, yelling at no one, stripping and scratching their skin, 591 00:37:30,560 --> 00:37:34,799 Speaker 1: sitting on the sidewalk and just nodding. Do you personally 592 00:37:34,840 --> 00:37:38,840 Speaker 1: know a neighbor who's been viciously attacked with a knife, 593 00:37:39,239 --> 00:37:43,320 Speaker 1: hard object, or firearm that resulted in a long hospital 594 00:37:43,320 --> 00:37:45,839 Speaker 1: stay or death. Were you the victim of such an 595 00:37:45,840 --> 00:37:50,919 Speaker 1: attack yourself? Most individuals in Minneapolis living in high crime 596 00:37:50,960 --> 00:37:55,759 Speaker 1: neighborhoods could answer yes to all those hassles not reported 597 00:37:56,160 --> 00:37:59,520 Speaker 1: in the daily news, and some could tell you about 598 00:37:59,520 --> 00:38:03,200 Speaker 1: the more violent ones that do grab the headlines, no 599 00:38:03,320 --> 00:38:10,759 Speaker 1: matter the level they are, everyday occurrences, sometimes downright hardships. 600 00:38:12,040 --> 00:38:15,280 Speaker 1: The documentary A Precarious State raises the issue of crime 601 00:38:15,320 --> 00:38:17,719 Speaker 1: being a problem in Minneapolis. A lot of people have 602 00:38:17,800 --> 00:38:20,359 Speaker 1: pushed back saying the crime is not a problem, most 603 00:38:20,400 --> 00:38:23,200 Speaker 1: recently Eric Roper in The Star Tribune. In his piece 604 00:38:23,239 --> 00:38:26,680 Speaker 1: he talks about his experience living in Minneapolis the lush 605 00:38:27,000 --> 00:38:31,440 Speaker 1: urbanity of Minneapolis supplements the pictures of sunflowers and people 606 00:38:31,840 --> 00:38:35,000 Speaker 1: lounging along the river bank and talking about loving riding 607 00:38:35,040 --> 00:38:37,840 Speaker 1: his bike in a protected bike lane on a beautiful, 608 00:38:37,840 --> 00:38:42,000 Speaker 1: warm day. And while this may be Roper's experience, it's 609 00:38:42,000 --> 00:38:45,319 Speaker 1: not mine, says the article writer, nor the experience of 610 00:38:45,400 --> 00:38:48,279 Speaker 1: people in much of the city. I wish I was 611 00:38:48,320 --> 00:38:51,400 Speaker 1: among the majority living in the city who never knew 612 00:38:51,560 --> 00:38:56,360 Speaker 1: anyone who was murdered. But I have personally known four. 613 00:38:57,560 --> 00:39:00,000 Speaker 1: Crime in my part of the city is far less 614 00:39:00,320 --> 00:39:04,920 Speaker 1: than six degrees of separation from my neighbors. 615 00:39:05,480 --> 00:39:07,480 Speaker 2: I can't even fatherly. 616 00:39:08,640 --> 00:39:13,480 Speaker 1: Living in an environment like that, my family children having 617 00:39:13,560 --> 00:39:17,279 Speaker 1: to live in an environment like that, And yet unfortunately 618 00:39:17,440 --> 00:39:20,879 Speaker 1: it's a commonplace for the city of Minneapolis, and unfortunately 619 00:39:21,880 --> 00:39:25,840 Speaker 1: with voters did very little to change anything regarding the 620 00:39:25,880 --> 00:39:29,279 Speaker 1: outcome of getting a grip on any of that. Thank 621 00:39:29,320 --> 00:39:33,680 Speaker 1: you for hanging out on today's show, candidate Adam Schwarze 622 00:39:33,680 --> 00:39:36,640 Speaker 1: in studio also Devid Gartenstein Rossill be joining us Talk 623 00:39:36,680 --> 00:39:38,920 Speaker 1: AI at six point thirty. If you miss any portion 624 00:39:39,120 --> 00:39:41,840 Speaker 1: of today's show, you can check out the podcast. Sam 625 00:39:41,880 --> 00:39:45,520 Speaker 1: has those available shortly up on the iHeart or radio app. 626 00:39:45,680 --> 00:39:48,000 Speaker 1: I hope you enjoy the rest of your Monday. Stay warm, 627 00:39:48,000 --> 00:39:50,480 Speaker 1: and I'll talk to you guys tomorrow morning, right around six. 628 00:39:50,560 --> 00:39:52,080 Speaker 1: So five have a great one back. 629 00:39:55,520 --> 00:39:55,719 Speaker 3: Man. 630 00:39:55,760 --> 00:39:57,200 Speaker 2: What's called a Trump during