The Wingham Advance Times, 1995-01-25, Page 5•
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Health supportsee ."'•B'eauhcand•Oari,er,8i
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• Caring cOnttentla Si understanding staff
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Dear Editor:
The Community Living Associa-
tipn group home located next to our
public librari hasnow got a for
sale sign on it. I am rather puzzled
= by. 'this action of our local non-
profit corporation that serves those
focal citizens developmentally and
physically handicapped.
.Ap arentiy . group homes .with
jiist Sve to eightliving per house
are rlgW passe and a unit of two
apafllnents with two living per unit
is.now'to be the norm, even if those
living 'there need 24-hour supervi-
sion,
Have I been misinformed, This
standard of group home operation
wbuld seem to be a bit "cadillac" in
nature in 'this era of economic re-
straint.
Isee nothing wrong with larger
group homes.
Dan A, Webster,
Wingham
Barry W. Read
Chartered Accountant
Big scratch Bingo win...Karen Leppington of the Fordwich Handimart store
(right) said she was more excited than Bob Campbell of Fordwlch (left) when he purchased a
Scratch Bingo ticket on Jan. 9 and found he'd won $25,000 Mr. Campbell who frequently buys
lottery tickets at the store, said he didn't believe he'd really won the money untilhe was pre-
sented with the cheque. For the trip to Toronto, he rented a limousine and treated Mrs. Lep-
pington and some other friends to dinner. Mr. Campbell declare& he intends to have some fun
with the money. The biggest pay-off In Scratch Bingo is $50,000. Mrs. Leppington ,said she had
never seen anything bigger than $25 before Mr. Campbell's lucky ticket. (Banner Photo)
Health care fraudperpetiated.
bv provincial health ministry
Dear Editor:,
' Ar few "years ago; B.C. Prethier'
Mike Harcourt proudly held up a
Canadian Medical Services card in
one hand and an American Express
card • in the other. He explained to
voters that his party would be the
great protector of universal health
care as symbolized by a Canadian
health card.
Fair enough. But what he didn't
say isthat same American Express
card provides us with a good exam-
ple of how we can save untold mil-
lions in fraudulent health care
costs.
In her new book, Underground
Nation, Diane Francis details the
extent to which such government -
issued cards are ripe for abuse.
In 1993, the Ontario government
set up a task force to investigate
fraud in their health and welfare
system. The report concluded that
health care fraud alone was costing
Ontario taxpayers $1 billion a year.
In other words, 1 out of every 17
dollars was spent unnecessarily -
most if it involving the fraudulent
use of Ontario health cards.
Here is just a small sampling of
the report's findings: (1) 30,000
people in Ontario facing deporta-
tion 'orders were receiving health
benefits at a cost of $42 million a
year, (2) Since there is not automat-
ic deregistration upon death, claims
were even paid on cards of de-
ceased individuals; (3) An estimat-
ed 60,000 Americans hold Ontario
health cards representing a . poten-
tia( cost of $84 million; (4) Drug.
dealers and users are soaking an es-
timated $135 million for narcotics
to "unresolved reference numbers";
(5) Under a section titled "frequent
births . analysis" the report shows
that 89 doctors billed for the same
delivery more than once. You get
the picture.
The Ontario Auditor General had
earlier repotted one million too
many provincial health cards were
in circulation.
A billion dollars worth of health
care fraud in Ontario alone, must
make .taxpayers wonder what pre-
ventatirie measures, if any, ,govern-
ments take to prevent fraud. A col-
league recently. called :his Health
Department to report a missing
card,; rind was told "there is a small
fee for a new card, so take your
time- andlook for it...and if you
still want another, call us hack.'
Could you imagine calling into
American Hkpreas tris report•a miss-
ing card aril teoiviagsuch a ditto
stet' response? The company would
:coni go broke. 'the truth is thata
anMedical cardia worth fir
more -than any Attic, VISA, or
•
' MasterCard: Police tepetts indicate
that Canadian health cards fetch up
to $3,000 on the black market, yet '
governments hand these things out
with little scrutiny. It is little won-
der Canada has the most expensive
public health care system in the
world. The hemorrhaging doesn't
stop with health care. Cases of enti-
tlement fraud are being reported
daily -- welfare, unemployment in-
surance, workers compensation,
pensions, child tax benefit and the
list goes on.
The Ontario government's task
force findings seem to suggest tax-
payers would be better served if
their medical cards were put under
the same scrutiny applied to cards
in the private sector.
As Francis explains, "Canadians
submit to credit card, bank, and
other intensive forms of scrutiny.
And so they should when they have
financial dealings with the public
sector."
Greater scrutiny would also allow
governments to cross reference for
First half
of year
The first half of the Wingham
Girl Guides' year has been very
busy. The fall season opened with a
weekend camp at Goderich, and
over the next few weeks the girls
enjoyed nature hikes and activities,
at Riverside Park.
The Hallowe'en party included a
Craft and everyone dressed up, in-
cluding the leaders. After enrol-
ment, the girls were into the Christ-
mas `season' and Made several tree
decoration crafts. They collected
enough Canadian Tire coupons to
buy -two gifts for needy children
through the Optimist Candle Tree.
The final December meeting was
a party at ,the Scout house with a
craft, gift exchange and frill -course
turkey supper. Thanks to the Scouts
for use of the house for, art night
with Mrs. Graham, who was great.
Membeeri df the Wingham Girl
Guides .also thank the ladies of the
Mary Hastings Rainbow Club and
tin✓ ladiea of tthe Majestic Rebekah
.edge 'lingual,,.: for` their, getter-
itis Suptinkaird to; the Winghatn.
Oita titlti fdt tl;le-tie of the fa
ciltties
offs wee ;'thee
`Gilaleitltine Guidetrays are
sliding to snake -
tor:
potenty'al cases' bf "fraud involving
other enfrtlemenrprograms
Francis- estimates that all entitle-
ment fraud totals as much as $16
billion. This is about the same
amount that is collected by the GST
e. ery year. erg" you wonnoeer--
.. about another option for GST re-
form.
Paul Pagnuelo,
Ontario Taxpayers' Federation,
Ajax, Ontario
Na"."""""""","""""""""""""."-""""""."""" "
LIVE at the VENDOME Motel
Teeswater
Paul Weber & Top Hand l
"Great Country New & Old
Friday Jan. 27 & Saturday Jan. 28
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w!V:PJYJ.NA'.%IlJ i:fw':%/1l. /49
irrSirrfrti
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All Wool
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We would rathet: seli waiter fas oris than move them.
Shop early for best selection. We are moving up the
street into a larger location in March.
Watch for our Grand Opening.
180 Josephine Street 357-3886
• Wingham
January Clearance
SALE
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