MEDICAID AUDIT SHOWS ADMINISTRATIONS'S HYPOCRISY
Comptroller Dan Hynes applauded the auditor general for his recent hard-hitting review of a state agency's handling of payments for the Medicaid program. Hynes said, "This audit provides more evidence that the administration has been mismanaging the Medicaid system and has been manipulating the payment process." The audit findings indicate that:
During the last three fiscal years, on average $1.5 billion in medical claims went unpaid in the same year the services were provided.
Due to late payments, the agency accrued potentially $81 million in interest costs since Fiscal Year 2000.
The agency failed to develop a system to pay interest on late medical reimbursements until nearly eight years after it should have done so.
And---
While it took only six days to process healthcare bills, it took an average of 57 days for the agency to submit those same claims for payment to the Comptroller's Office.
"This is appalling and inexcusable." Hynes said. "Healthcare providers have been forced out of business as a result of the ongoing mismanagement of this program."
MAY IS LYME DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH
It's that time of year again and State Public Health Director Dr. Damon T. Arnold is warning residents to take precautions against tick bites to prevent contracting the diseases that ticks can carry. May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month and now through June is the peak period for tick activity.
Ticks live in and near wooded areas, tall grass, and brush and, if infected, can spread diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia and Lyme disease. The first sign of infection is usually a rash at the site of the tick bite from 3-32 days after the bite. The rash expands over a period of several days. A combination of fatigue, chills, fever, headache, muscle and joint aches and swollen lymph nodes can also occur. If left untreated, symptoms can become worse.
The best way to protect yourself is to avoid tick bites by checking your clothing often for ticks, tuck long pants into your socks and boots, apply insect repellent containing DEET and perform tick checks every two to three hours. Remove ticks promptly with fine-point tweezers and pull straight out. For more details, visit www.IDPH.state.il.us.
SPORTS ON MONDAY
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
The Comets Varsity baseball team won the regional over the weekend. The Comets beat Wesclin on Friday and Columbia on Saturday to claim the championship. They move ahead to the Sectionals starting Thursday at 4:30 at Greenville College against Piasa. WGEL Radio will carry that Sectional game live on Thursday.
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL
Congratulations to the Greenville Lady Comets on a great season. The Lady Comets were conference champions and made it to the regional championship game were they lost 7-5 in nine innings to Wesclin. The Lady Comets ended the season 22-8.
HIGH SCHOOL TRACK
Advancing to the State Finals are Mitch Willman in high jump and Jim Dierkes in discus. The finals are Friday at Eastern Illinois University.
In Lady Comets track State finals results: Tasha Buchmiller placed 11th in shot put; Ashley Holden 10th in long jump; Lindsey Holden 4th in the 200 and 9th in the 400.
OBITUARIES
None to Report
THE WGEL SECRET WORD IS GIVEN MONDAY THRU FRIDAY IN THE 11AM, NOON, 1 & 2PM HOURS. WRITE IT DOWN AND WHEN WE CALL, YOU COULD WIN $50.
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