Spokane7
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October 29, 2010 in City
Spokane’s Planned Parenthood fined by state
Kevin Graman
The Spokesman-Review
Planned Parenthood of the Inland Northwest will pay the state $345,000 after settling a 2009 audit that uncovered the clinic used incorrect codes and provided insufficient documentation for some claims billed to Medicaid.
The original audit finding estimated the Spokane family-planning organization improperly billed Medicaid more than $629,000 for 333 patient procedures from March 2004 through February 2007.
During that time, the clinic collected about $7.6 million from Medicaid.
Planned Parenthood appealed and a compromise was reached with the state “without any admission of incorrect billing, documentation of payment,” according the Department of Social and Health Services.
Rights panel poorly understood 
ZagChuck on October 29 at 3:20 p.m.
Didn’t we have this same story in August of 09?
then it was a $700,000 fine after a compromise.
Why is it that The Planned Parenthood Abortion Mills keep overcharging the taxpayers?
Is it their leadership? or just a common practice? Is every Abortion Mill they run doing the same thing?
these are questions real reporters would investigate…..
I’m just sayin ….
MrNatural on October 29 at 3:58 p.m.
The need is great and the funds are few. Those people at Planned Parenthood work selflessly to help the droves of poor young women in this region who have been abused, abandoned, and cruelly judged by self-righteous and sanctimonious religious fanatics.
I would say that the maliciously infused conservative legislation and subsequent bureaucratic administrative codes have made the needed help they provide tortuous and subject to uncaring two dimensional bean counters…but that’s just my opinion
hawken on October 29 at 4:12 p.m.
Amazing! Truly amazing!!
I have seen the hypocrisy and debated the hypocrisy of the liberal left for some 40 yrs now. And this level of hypocrisy should rank somewhere in the top 50!
Mr. Natural, far liberal left….
JUSTIFIES the fraud of Planned Parent hood!
And then turns his liberal left, vile to the “religious right!”
There is no limit to the hypocrisy of the liberal left! Again, evinced by Mr. Natural.
I see no reference to the “religious right” in the article.
What I do see is the “fraud” of Planned Parenthood….
MrNatural on October 29 at 4:49 p.m.
Glad to make yer day…hawk
…let me ask you…do you believe that in this free nation of ours that people have the right to their own opinion?
…and if so, are they entitled to said opinion without oppression?
…and if not…apparently…who cares what you think.
misjustice on October 29 at 5:07 p.m.
Seems like this is an example of the Obama/Gregoire administrations using the tool of audits to find mistakes in the system; and hold the system accountable.
Mr. Natural, you are correct about the important work that Planned Parenthood does, locally and nationally to care for the health needs of women and families.
Diana on October 29 at 5:15 p.m.
Planned Parenthood is the largest provider of birth control and education in the country, which decreases unwanted pregnancies tremendously.
If you don’t believe in abortion, boys, don’t have one.
oneanddone on October 29 at 5:23 p.m.
But they obviously DON’T hold them accountable. PP steals who knows how much and then cries, “we po’ - don’ take our money!” The only way this coming health care debacle has any chance is if they cut the hands of those who steal from the system. You cheat, you lose your license to drink from the public trough. In this case, Planned Parenthood everywhere would NEVER again get ANY public funding.
Spokane_Citizen on October 29 at 5:29 p.m.
oneanddone’s comments are a powerful argument for VERY late term abortions.
Dazzeetrader11 on October 29 at 6:46 p.m.
PIGS all of you who thinks PP does a good job. Good job at what? Taxpayers money that’s what do a good job with. They should be summarily closed. And SPokane Citizen…it figures. this is pure murder you advocate.
topofthemountain on October 29 at 6:52 p.m.
I wasn’t aware that state funds were to be used to pay for abortions. Where are these state dollars coming from that are being used for abortions? I believe there should be an inquiry of where the money for medicaid is coming from, and how it is being used. Since an abortion for any reason, other than it being life-threatening to the mother, should never be paid by anyone, but the mother. If it is her choice, than it should be done with her money, not anyone elses. Abortion is murder, and murder of the most innocent of life. Every child is a blessing, and every life is important.
Dazzeetrader11 on October 29 at 7:00 p.m.
If any company collected $633K fraudlulently and only paid back $345K…I’d say that’s a pretty good season! Funny…and not to be too harsh, most people who did this swindle wouldn’t only be closed, they’d be in jail. But oh Boo Hooo…they do such selfless good work. Wahhhhhhhh…..
Kids in the late stages of pregancy should be protected by law. It’s murder. More than half can exist outside the womb by then. People…we’re not wolves who leave unfortunate kids outside in the cold to fend for themselves on a mountainside.. This is LIFE! Don’t pay to squander the gift.
Adoption works…wiping out life’s potential doesn’t. It’s matter of convenience for mislead women. “Rights” you say? Who’s “rights”?
Diana on October 29 at 7:22 p.m.
Daisy, if you don’t want one, don’t have one. Women are perfectly capable of making legal decisions about their bodies and its really none of your business.
topofthemountain on October 29 at 7:34 p.m.
Diana, It is Daisy’s business, because if she’s a Washington resident, her taxes are helping to pay for abortions, and there’s an innocent life that cannot protect itself. Instead of murder, choose life.
Dazzeetrader11 on October 29 at 7:47 p.m.
Diana…how about making a decision to keep your knees together before the trouble begins? Why hurt a living being because your choices generate a bad outcome? Doesn’t seem right…does it?
Diana on October 29 at 8:11 p.m.
Daisy, again… make your choices. Keep your knees together and if that form of birth control doesn’t work, go for it. My decisions are none of your business.
Dazzeetrader11 on October 29 at 9:17 p.m.
Well yes they are Diana…if I end up paying for your mischief.
If you want to have abortions, YOU and OTHERS should be paying. Not the public taxpayers. Now does THAT sound fair to you? You write the check! Fair?
opiemuyo on October 29 at 9:18 p.m.
So very sad that the child must die because of the actions of adults. So very sad that children must destroy life growing within them and carry this burden for the rest of their lives. Pray for all children and protect them from harm. To take any other approach, such as Planned Parenthood is morally and grievously wrong, and perpetuates the culture of death where babies are thrown in the garbage and drowned in toilets because of the lack of respect for human life.
nslopeofw on October 29 at 10:42 p.m.
I’m sure there are good things that PP does. Providing birth control is definitely one of them. I’m also sure that not all of the abortions are done because of women “who have been abused, abandoned, and cruelly judged by self-righteous and sanctimonious religious fanatics”.
I’m also sure that some women are using abortion as a birth control method.
Whether you believe in abortion, or not, it is the right of the taxpayer to have an opinion, if they are paying.
Granted, if all the abortions in this country were paid by the people responsible, then in my opinion, (even though i personally don’t believe in abortion, but do believe in free choice), it would be their right. This isn’t one of those times.
PP needs to be non-taxpayer funded if they do more than educate, and provide BC. Abortion should not be funded by taxpayers anymore than botox and face lifts. Its personal choice, and the persons involved should be paying.
JBlim on October 29 at 11:00 p.m.
Was it really fraud, that is, intentional, or just a hyper-technical rule violation. I get the impression no one here actually knows.
Dazzeetrader11 on October 29 at 11:21 p.m.
The State does Blim..:)
Diana on October 30 at 2:11 a.m.
Why not try to have Roe v Wade overturned, rather than making silly attempts to show you are the world’s foremost moral authority?
And good luck with that.
ZagChuck on October 30 at 3:18 a.m.
I Promise you they don’t overbill anyone but the government. We know that’s the case. And here we are for the third time in three years they have been caught over-billing.
Each time they’ve overbilled by at least $700,000. Each time they’ve re-paid less than half what they owe.
This should be investigated as criminal enterprise. They’ve bilked taxpayers out of over $1,000,000.00 in the last 3 years alone, JUST IN SPOKANE!
You KNOW we’re not the only place this is happening!
Even if it was some other business, not the Planned Parenthood Abortion Mills, this would be considered criminal behavior! Whether you agree with Roe v. Wade or not, the practice of overbilling the government on a continued basis is criminal, and must be stopped.
Dazzeetrader11 on October 30 at 12:10 p.m.
Thats what I said above CHuck…$633K with a payback generating $300 K in profit!! lol…WHo wouldn’t throw up their hands and cheer! Find me about 3 of those and I’d be making $1 million..on killing babies! Ughhhhh..It’s the left…and how they think. Self centered diseased logic.
Hey Diana…good advice on the Roe V Wade suite. Nobody wants the damned thing anymore…including Roe nor Wade!!
It’s convenience killing…sanctified by the Supremes…for now at least. For now….the price is high…how many Drs, or even people who might have solved diseases or a scientist who solved all the energy problems…or a new world leader… a new spiritual leader…how many of those types never come to fruition because they were killed off before they had a chance to fulfill their mission…
Killing children defines a core set of values. It that’s the heart of a society…even for 20% of that society…is it any small wonder the US/world is in such trouble? Killing innocents just might unmask the heart of the matter…something to think about..
Diana on October 30 at 12:15 p.m.
Think about following your morals and values, Daisy? No thanks. Do you always think everyone should think and do as you do? That’s a bit delusional, don’t you think?
But again, if you don’t want an abortion, don’t have one. Stay out of my decisions. They are none of your business.
misjustice on October 30 at 12:46 p.m.
Planned Parenthood provides a lot more than just abortion services. For one, they promote, distribute, and educate clients about birth control which helps to lower the unplanned pregnancy rate (and by extension the abortion rate).
Go figure!
ZagChuck on October 30 at 9:10 p.m.
@ Missed-juiced-us
even if we were to accept our premise as truthful, it doesn’t dismiss the criminal activity of thier so-called non-profit organization. They continue to overbill us ( the taxpayers). the law doesn’t say “if you’re a ‘Good” group you can commit fraud.”
Fraud is Fraud! Criminal behavior is criminal behavior. there is no excuse
nslopeofw on October 31 at 4:37 p.m.
I got to go with Misjustice on this one. PP does a lot of good, and provides a lot of good services. (I don’t like abortion, but it’s not my choice to make. What do I know about that persons situation?) But, if they are over billing, and keep doing it, then they need to be fined more than they made. And, whom ever keeps making these accounting mistakes, should be prosecuted, and put in jail.
mmspowaus on November 02 at 5:33 a.m.
ZAGChuck:
I can’t believe what I have read on this blog.
If you are a “blessed” group as the leftwing nuts define it, it is permissible to commit a crime, multiple times, and they still pay tribute to you!!!
Forget logic; forget the law; forget equality under the law…
As long as you as you are a leftwing darling you can do no wrong in “leftwing world”.
I wonder in “leftwing world” if such an entity can commit murder and still be beloved by the liberal lackeys.
I bet in “leftwing world” an entity could be the largest murder for hire organization on the planet and the progressives would look the other way when they steal tax dollars….
It seems that some are indeed more equal than others in “leftwing world” …
You are wasting your time debating with this crowd…
If you take a human brain and remove reason, responsibility, integrity and logic, apparently what is left, no matter how bizarre, is a progressive mindset….
james_l on November 02 at 7:00 p.m.
I am not excusing the actions of Planned Parenthood; they screwed up and are paying the price, just as the non-PP providers listed below have done:
“Feds join Medicaid fraud suit against CHS”: http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/stories/2009/03/02/daily44.html
“Ohio’s Forum Health to Pay Nearly $2.9M for Overbilling Medicare”: http://www.beckersasc.com/stark-act-and-fraud-abuse-issues/ohios-forum-health-to-pay-nearly-29m-for-overbilling-medicare.html
“$1.2M deal in Medicare overbilling case”: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012557985_xraylawsuit07m.html
“Medicare fraud: Saint John’s Health Center to pay $5.25M for overbilling”: http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/medicare-fraud-saint-johns-health-center-pay-5-25m-overbilling/2010-08-26
Only a wing-nut teabagger would use this case as a rally cry against an organization that does a tremendous amount of good. As I have pointed out here: http://www.spokesman.com/comments/cr/61/57955/#c209627 in another thread, they are mostly privately supported and abortions are a miniscule portion of their total work.
It seems to me the problem with Planned Parenthood is they offer choices to women, something the misogynistic teabaggers on this board are vehemently against.
mmspowaus on November 03 at 1:17 a.m.
Tax dollars wasted by a military contractor or a DNC darling like Planned Parenthood should be unacceptable…MY attitude is the same…pay back all the money and don’t do it again…
Planned Parenthood however has done this stunt multiple times and has richly profited from it…
James_I and other leftwing nut jobs though take offense when one of their institutions are held to the same standard as other contractors…
Proving my points:
A) Some are more equal than others in leftwing world.
B) If you take a human brain and remove reason, responsibility, integrity and logic, apparently what is left, no matter how bizarre, is a progressive mindset….
James_I is more interested in issuing taunts, instead of contributing something even remotely useful.
Could this be due to the thrashing the DNC received on Election Day and he is lashing out at others?
Take a Tylenol James_I, don’t blog toxic catcalls…
james_l on November 03 at 9:09 a.m.
Now there’s the pot calling the kettle black.
Back to your mommy’s basement now matty.
mmspowaus on November 03 at 1:50 p.m.
James_I?
Do you just yak whatever grazes across that dye in the wool organ you use for a brain?
The 1970’s are calling you James_I;
they want their “move out of the mother’s basement” line back…
they also suggest that you try to write something original
instead of sheepishly bleating the words of others…
Tax dollars misspent by ANY contractor, multiple times, should not be rewarded…most reasonable people would agree…
Planned Parenthood should not gain financially, multiple times, due to own their own repeated internal errors…
james_l on November 03 at 3:31 p.m.
Just keep on entertaining us, matt.
You are a riot!
eagleproducer on November 04 at 11:11 a.m.
My taxpayer money goes towards all sorts of things which offend my sense of morality. Planned Parenthood isn’t one.
There are defense contractors who’ve been fined multiple times to the tunes of hundreds of millions of dollars for frauds that involved billions of dollars who continue to do business with the U.S. government.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/06/us/06helmet.html?_r=1&ref=us
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/6/28/54049/8781
Don’t whine about fraud, waste and abuse until you go after the real abusers. In this case your fiscal conservatism gets revealed for what it is: Misogyny.