Top Montana Policy Institute Activist Under Investigation for Patient Abuse, Health Care Fraud

After having read the (0.00 / 0)

Interlake story, it is disheartening to see you or anyone condone this sort of politically inspired witch hunt.  How many investigations does it take????????????  She prays with patients after receiving permission, boil her in oil!!!!  

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by: Craig Moore @ Sat Nov 14, 2009 at 01:39:14 AM UTC

Um, Craig, she then...... (0.00 / 0)

CHARGES THE GOVERNMENT FOR HER "TREATMENTS"!  From what I understand, the fraud part comes in when she actually has the balls to BILL the govt., you and I, for laying on of hands and praying over her dupes....oops!, I mean patients!  This is SOP for the GOP.  Did you MISS the part of the Pubbie health care plan that actually INCLUDED such nonsense?  I think that most rational people would find this behavior unethical AND bizarre.  Besides, Craig, I guaran-frickin'-TEE you that us folks without health insurance pray mightily every day that we DON'T get sick!  No need for Dr. Pukeachek to get paid for it.  The ONLY thing she's layin' hands on is our wallets!  And yes, that's properly called fraud.  Guess that her "Hosana Health Clinic" would be better termed the Hosin'Ya Health Clinic!

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by: Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers! @ Sat Nov 14, 2009 at 04:47:06 AM UTC

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Hi Larry (0.00 / 0)

Over the past 2 months I have spent much time at a nursing home and hospitals.  I have sat with several people that were complete strangers.  I just go up and introduce myself.  I generally pick those that I see are alone.  I have not openly prayed with them but I have prayed for them in silence.  One person is stricken with ALS.  His mind is there but he can no longer form words.  When I see him and wave, he brightens up and attempts to smile.  I just talk to him.  Healing and treating misery takes more than drugs.  WHATEVER works to alleviate suffering is all right by me.  Just like sign language, our actions strongly communicate who and what we are and if we care for the value of the lives of others. What I find though, is how much they heal me.

I was recently at the House of Meats, but I didn't have time to call.  We will meet.

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by: Craig Moore @ Sat Nov 14, 2009 at 16:14:15 PM UTC

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Craig, I agree. (0.00 / 0)

I just don't think that a doc needs to get paid for what you are doing without an Md.  For the record, I drive a van part-time for nursing home facility.  I, too, greatly enjoy the elderly people.  The ones that are still able to speak and remember are truly fascinating. They are walking history books.  Also, my wife and I have taken care of numerous elderly relatives until they died.  And cancer patients too.  My wife is a RN who has worked extensively with dying people.  We actually have a lot of experience with old and dying folks.  It's a real eye opener.  And you're right.  There is something very special about being around these folks.  Kinda puts one's life into perspective, doesn't it? It's a shame that people have to lock away the old and dying from public view. I don't know about you, but there are folks MY age in the nursing home I work at.  Won't be long I'm afraid.  That's why it's so important to get one's life's work accomplished here soon.  Honest health care reform would be a wonderful legacy for we boomers to leave behind.  Reform only comes from enough suffering, and God knows that we are currently at that point.  The suffering of the people has now surpassed the point where the corporate bullshit is an effective propoganda tool.  Now, people want REAL reform.  That's what makes the current bills so bad.  MOST people understand that the ONLY thing preventing real reform is greed, and that is no longer acceptable.  Anyway, do give me a call if you're in town.  Coffee in the afternoon, or beer in the evening.

Oh, BTW, I speak sign language too.  I worked with deaf kids for eight years.  

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by: Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers! @ Sat Nov 14, 2009 at 17:50:40 PM UTC

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Where's the politics Craig? (0.00 / 0)

And do you have a problem with an insurance provider investigating allegations of fraud? Or should they just look askance because a health care provider is politically active?

Just because Bukacek has unpopular political positions doesn't mean that investigations are spurred by them.

And I agree with Larry that the time she spends praying with her patients shouldn't be billed to Medcaid (or any insurance provider for that matter). Why should my tax dollars go to pay for her "faith" healing?

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by: JC @ Sat Nov 14, 2009 at 05:14:33 AM UTC

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How many investigations (0.00 / 0)

does it take????????????????  

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by: Craig Moore @ Sat Nov 14, 2009 at 16:15:03 PM UTC

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What makes you think there's more than one investigation (0.00 / 0)

with multiple queries?

And if there are multiple investigations, maybe there were multiple crimes committed.

Thought you conservatives were law and order types. At what point does ideology trump the law?

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by: JC @ Sat Nov 14, 2009 at 19:59:32 PM UTC

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Easy (0.00 / 0)

At what point does ideology trump the law?

When your get-out-of-jail-free card is the charge of political motivation and a "witch hunt".  Even Bernie Keric tried that, with Ghouliani's help, before actual legal facts came to light.

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by: Rob Kailey @ Sat Nov 14, 2009 at 20:34:57 PM UTC

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JC, did you bother to read the (0.00 / 0)

Interlake article?  "Bukacek, an outspoken critic of President Obama's health-care reforms and president of Montana ProLife Coalition, said the visit last week was the fourth or fifth investigation since last spring."

I recently read a blog by a self-avowed atheist and pro-choice advocate:  http://www.leeroyfdermit.com/2...

He writes:

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The damage done by such politically motivated investigations is not limited to those individual Americans targeted by government agencies. Consider that other Americans will be more afraid to speak out in the future. Even more perversely, consider that the government is incentivizing doctors to no longer accept Medicaid patients knowing that they will be open to such investigations.

Doctor Annie Bukacek is a local political leader for pro-life organizations who offers to pray with her patients.

As an atheist and pro-choice person myself, I can assure you that if anyone reported Annie Bukacek to the government for such political or religious differences, then that atheist or pro-choice person is a hypocrite who does not respect the rights of others.
===============

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by: Craig Moore @ Sat Nov 14, 2009 at 21:10:11 PM UTC

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Well, JC (0.00 / 0)

There it is.  An athiest blogger said it so it must be true.

However, both Dermit and Craig avoid the obvious.  The Government was billed for religious practice.  That would be fraud by definition of the law.  You and I are being asked to pay for illegal practice, and if we object, it's a witch hunt.  But when asked to pay for a legal medical procedure, that would be immoral or wrong, according to them.

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by: Rob Kailey @ Sat Nov 14, 2009 at 21:26:14 PM UTC

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Wulfgar (0.00 / 0)

prove your claim:  "The Government was billed for religious practice."  Doctors bill for treatments.  They use something called medical codes.  Look at a bill sometime.

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by: Craig Moore @ Sat Nov 14, 2009 at 21:33:45 PM UTC

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No, Craig. (0.00 / 0)

I don't think that the proof has been proved yet.  Remember, this is simply an investigation.  But, BUT,  this lady was treating very, very few patients per day, yet charging WAY much money!  Here's a example.  Say for example you went in with a sore finger.  She'd apparently  do  five minutes of medical stuff, and TWENTY-FIVE minutes of prayer! And then billing for a half hour.  Pretty good  work if you can get it. That is my understanding.  Now, I may be wrong, but that's why they're investigating. Guess we'll see.  But this situation is really not  an indictment against  your belief in prayer.  So don't take it personally, just as  I don't take personally the argument that somehow she is being politically attacked. Goofy ideas are being attacked, not people.  

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by: Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers! @ Sat Nov 14, 2009 at 21:54:38 PM UTC

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Craig, there is nothing new here. (0.00 / 0)

I can pretty much assure you that there is NO political motivation here.  Regularly do docs get investigated for all manner of offense.  And it has nothing to do with politics.  A friend of mine who suffers terrible, unending, unbearable chronic pain could find only ONE doc in Montana who would prescribe the necessary pain relief medication.  Can't remember his name, but he was down in Billings.  

Well, suddenly, for no apparent reason, the Feds basically shut down this guy's practice leaving MANY, MANY chronic pain sufferers without access to their legally prescribed medication.  You see, pain meds are basically legal drugs.  Somehow or another, the poor doc, attempting to do his job faithfully, found himself at odds with BUSH'S Feds!  Was it politically motivated?  Hell, maybe.  Remember that Bush is the moron who went after Tommy Chong!  (Great book BTW for you folks who haven't read it, the I Chong by Tommy about his experiences in jail and bush's role.  I'm willing to loan my copy, just give me an address and pass it along).  

So, I would be very, very suprised to find a medical flea as insignificant as THIS doc was deserving of a presidential scratch!  And if you read the article carefully, the doc says as much herself.  Nope.  I think she KNOWS she was scamming.  Why?  I guess because she WANTED to be caught to become a martyr for the nutjob crowd.  Again, remember that the Pubbies actually INCLUDED such nonsense in their health care plan.  What better way to rouse the religious rabble than by one, taking advantage of the Montana mystique, and two, by creating a "christian" woman doctor martyr?!  Hell, I SEE no better way!  I mean, I hate to shound cynical here, but this is what the rightwing specializes in.  

Now, I could be wrong, but I doubt it.  Nothing like a good martyr to re-energize the old "war on christians" theme, no?  Heck, makes ME indignant just writing about it!  Think I'll fire off a check to the American Family Values channel right now, 'cause there's just sumthin' real unsavory 'bout throwin' a lady christain doc to the secularist lions that sticks in my craw.  And not only that, but a black presiden against a WHITE lady christian doctor?  This is simply reverse Tommy Chongism, and damn good strategy!  The rightwing never fails to amaze me with their ability to come up with the most creative ways to dupe the dupable!  The motto may as well be "a christian is born every minute"!

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by: Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers! @ Sat Nov 14, 2009 at 21:48:12 PM UTC

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Being a political activist, I expect (0.00 / 0)

Bukacek to spin the investigation(s) to her own advantage-both politically and professionally. She chose to speak out and draw attention to herself in the midst of a process that had been designed to protect her privacy, and the privacy of her patients. Why should I believe anything she has to say? Most criminals (and I'm not judging her one here) try to work a situation to their advantage, as do political activists.

And as to Dermitt's ministrations, I have to laugh. Activists exercise their rights (as Bukacek is doing) in the face of government intrusion, coercion, and repression. And the harder the government pushes back, the harder they exercise their rights.

I, in my youth was investigated by a grand jury for actions I had not taken, and intimidated by the presence of obvious surveillance and infiltration. Yet it did not silence me. Moreso, it invigorated my and others' efforts. I expect it will do the same for Bukacek. However, if she eventually is accused of wrongdoing and charges are brought and they stick, then I'll look back at her words and remember them for the politically and ideologically motivated reasons she spoke them (and you defended).

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by: JC @ Sat Nov 14, 2009 at 22:41:28 PM UTC

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