From Medi-Cal fraud to a Nigerian chieftain – Latest News
We at all times suspected that Medi-Cal fraud was costly. We didn’t notice it was ridiculous.
Last week, the California Post reported on a staggering $269 million scheme run by a “mega fraudster” who ripped off the state’s model of Medicaid, which supplies health protection for the poor.
He was caught, tried, and sentenced to 30 years in federal jail.
Sign up for the California Morning Report publication
The largest information, opinion and tradition shaping California proper now.
Thanks for signing up!
Then Christopher F. Rufo and Madeleine Rowley of the Manhattan Institute ran an éxposé, additionally printed within the California Post, on Nathan Ogbatue, a Nigerian chieftain who had made a fortune by charging Medi-Cal for in-home health care.
Chief Nathan Obiorah Ogbatue, a Nigerian chief who made tens of millions from Medi-Cal. X/@christopherrufo
Then Christopher F. Rufo and Madeleine Rowley of the Manhattan Institute ran an éxposé, additionally printed within the California Post, on Nathan Ogbatue, a Nigerian chieftain who had made a fortune by charging Medi-Cal for in-home health care.
Ogbatue’s company had made little or no money in California till it instantly made tens of tens of millions of {dollars} after the coronavirus pandemic.
He purchased costly real estate in Southern California and constructed a palace back home, the place he spreads the wealth round amongst his grateful topics.
He has not been accused of wrongdoing, however specialists raised purple flags. And he accused journalists of racism quite than defending his odd business sample.
Medi-Cal is only one piece of the general fraud image in California. But it’s a large one.
The program exploded in 2024, after Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Democrat-run state Legislature expanded eligibility for Medi-Cal to unlawful immigrants.
Download The California Post App, observe us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTook, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedIn
California Post Sports Facebook, Instagram, TikTook, YouTube, X
California Post Opinion
California Post Newsletters: Sign up right here!
California Post App: Download right here!
Home supply: Sign up right here!
Page Six Hollywood: Sign up right here!
It was a model of “Medicare for All.” But it practically collapsed.
Newsom had to stop new enrollments final 12 months, after month-to-month losses bumped into billions of {dollars}.
But Democrats are decided to attempt again.
With that a lot spending, there’s certain to be waste and theft from this system.
That’s what occurred during the pandemic, when the state’s unemployment division misplaced tens of billions of {dollars} to fraud.
To at the present time, California hasn’t paid back the debt it owes to the federal authorities for unemployment advantages during COVID — advantages that had been usually merely stolen, together with by international syndicates.
Then there are the hospice fraud schemes — amounting to about $3.5 billion in LA County alone.
When Dr. Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, identified hospice fraud in California, Newsom accused him of racism.
Chief Nathan Obiorah Ogbatue, a Nigerian chief who made tens of millions from Medi-Cal. Facebook/Idemili Media Associates
Then the state pretended it had been monitoring down fraudsters all alongside.
There is an excessive amount of tolerance for fraud amongst California’s political class. They appear to suppose fraud is suitable if public money by some means finds its means to serving to somebody.
Ironically, the largest victims are Californians who rely on public providers — the people politicians declare they need to help.
