SePtember 1, 2012 Hawaii filiPino CHroniCle 1 ♦♦ SEPTEMBERFEBRUARY 19, 1, 20112012 ♦♦ HAWAII-FILIPINO NEWS LEGAL NOTES MAINLAND NOTES Dr. Jorge Camara abanDonment of Pinoy CoConut Drink to reCeive 2012 lPr StatuS Due to nameD ameriCa'S rizal awarD triPS abroaD HealtHieSt beverage HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE PRESORTED STANDARD 94-356 WAIPAHU DEPOT RD., 2ND FLR. U.S. POSTAGE WAIPAHU, HI 96797 PAID HONOLULU, HI PERMIT NO. 9661 2 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE SEPTEMBER 1, 2012 EDITORIALS FROM THE PUBLISHER Publisher & Executive Editor loha! We trust that the new school Charlie Y. Sonido, M.D. Winning the Fight year has gotten off to a good start for you and your family. Many of Publisher & Managing Editor you are looking forward to Labor Chona A. Montesines-Sonido Against Medicare Day, which is right around the cor- Associate Editors A ner. For you hardworking parents Fraud Dennis Galolo and others who are gainfully em- Edwin Quinabo edicare and Medicaid pay out some $750 bil- ployed, we hope that you will take time off to lion each year to more than 1.5 million doc- enjoy a much-deserved day of rest with your family. Hawaii’s job Creative Designer Junggoi Peralta tors, hospitals and medical suppliers. By many market is still very tight, so let’s count our blessings and be thank- estimates, about $65 billion a year is lost to ful for our jobs. Design Consultant Randall Shiroma fraud. Common types of fraud include iden- Earlier this week, the State Supreme Court rejected a complaint M tity theft, providing medical equipment that is filed by City Council candidate Martin Han who challenged the re- Photography not needed and exaggerating or fabricating sults of the August 11 Primary Election. Please turn to page 8 for Tim Llena services provided to clients in order to gain payment. more details on the court’s ruling. In other election-related news, the Administrative Assistant Medicare fraud has grown into such a big problem because Honolulu City Council approved a special election for the District 6 Shalimar Pagulayan the system is easy to manipulate and has very little oversight seat formerly held by Tulsi Gabbard, who has since resigned to focus Columnists as to whether or not those services are actually being provided. on her race in the upcoming General Election. As of press time, 11 Carlota Ader Historically, less than 3 percent of claims are reviewed before candidates have filed to run for Gabbard’s seat. Turn to page 6 for Carlo Cadiz, M.D. Medicare pays them. For years, the government has been play- more on the candidates and other election information. Sen. Will Espero Grace F. Fong, Ed.D ing a losing game of “pay and chase”—or as the FBI puts it, Our cover story for this issue, which was written by State Sen. Ruth Elynia Mabanglo, Ph.D. trying to recoup losses after scammers have cashed in. Glenn Wakai, takes a closer look at Medicare fraud and the efforts J.P. Orias To stem the tide, federal officials created the Senior of local Filipino volunteers with Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Pacita Saludes Reuben S. Seguritan, Esq. Medicare Patrol (SMP) in 1997. These “fraud squads” look Hawaii to help seniors from becoming victims. According to SMP Charlie Sonido, M.D. for scams in the federal Medicare program. In a 15-year span, Hawaii, health care fraud is the number one scam that targets sen- Emmanuel S. Tipon, Esq. the SMP program has grown to 54 nationwide with nearly iors. The group is looking for more volunteers in the fight against Felino S. Tubera 5,700 volunteers. More recently, the controversial Affordable Medicare fraud and encourages anyone who observes, is aware of, Sylvia Yuen, Ph.D. Care Act (Obamacare) included $350 million spread over 10 or receives a complaint from any source alleging fraud to report it years to fight fraud. It includes stiffer penalties to those found by calling 586-7281. Neighbor island residents are urged to call Contributing Writers guilty and increases scrutiny over the programs receiving toll free at 1-800-296-9422. We hope you will find Glenn’s story Belinda Aquino, Ph.D. funds. Federal health law and other legislation have also di- Clement Bautista “Filipinos Fight Medicare Abuse Throughout the State” informa- Teresita Bernales, Ed.D rected the federal government to start using software and other tive and useful. Serafin Colmenares, Jr., Ph.D. new technologies that help find discrepancies and fraud in In other news, we would like to congratulate Dr. Jorge Camara, Linda Dela Cruz health care claims. who has been chosen to receive the 2012 Rizal Award for Peace and Fiedes Doctor Danny De Gracia, II, MA It seems progress is being made. In the last fiscal year Social Justice. Dr. Camara truly exemplifies the life, values and Carolyn Weygan-Hildebrand alone, the government recouped more than $4 billion through teachings of Rizal—the national hero of the Philippines. For more on Amelia Jacang, M.D. restitution and fines—but spent millions of dollars doing so, Dr. Camara, please read our news feature on page 7. The award will Caroline Julian as critics have been quick to point out. However, investing in be presented by the Knights of Rizal-Hawaii Chapter on Sunday, Maita Milallos Paul Melvin Palalay, M.D. fighting fraud is turning out to be money well spent. September 2, 2012 at the Dr. Jose Rizal Award Gala at the Ala Glenn Wakai The reality is that fighting fraud should be everyone’s re- Moana Hotel Hibiscus Ballroom. The event also includes a one-day Amado Yoro sponsibility and concern. Roughly 47 million Americans are conference on the theme “Rizal’s Legacy and Its Implications to Na- Philippine Correspondent enrolled in Medicare and that number is expected to top 80 tion Building.” The keynote address will be given by Dr. Belinda A. Greg Garcia million by 2030 as baby boomers continue to retire. Our na- Aquino, professor emeritus and former director of the UH Center Big Island Distributor tion is already overburdened in paying for rising health care for Philippine Studies. Please see page 5 for more details. Grace Larson costs, yet con artists continue to siphon billions of taxpayer There are other news and tidbits in this issue that I have not Ditas Udani dollars from Medicare. Government can no longer afford to mentioned but hope that you will take time to read. Thank you for Maui Distributor tolerate rampant fraud and neither should you. your continued support of the Chronicle. As always, please feel Cecile Piros free to contact us at: [email protected] if you have Molokai Distributor ideas, concerns or questions regarding Hawaii’s vibrant Filipino Maria Watanabe What to Do with community. Advertising/Marketing Director Until next time… aloha and mabuhay! Chona A. Montesines-Sonido Waikiki Natatorium Account Executives Carlota Ader n the latest twist of the Waikiki War Memorial Natato- J.P. Orias rium saga, Gov. Neil Abercrombie has proposed con- The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle is published verting the long-neglected facility into a beach The natatorium was built in 1927 to honor Hawaii’s men and weekly by The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle Inc. volleyball arena. Such a venue would serve as a new women who fought in World War I. World-class athletes like leg- It is mailed directly to subscribers and dis- tributed at various outlets around Oahu and visitor attraction that would boost the fast-growing endary Hawaii surfer Duke Kahanamoku swam in the natatorium’s the neighbor islands. Editorial and advertis- I sport of beach volleyball as well as the University of pool in its early years. But after decades of neglect, it was closed to ing deadlines are three weeks prior to pub- lication date. Subscriptions are available at Hawaii’s fledgling beach volleyball program. the public in 1979 due to health and safety concerns. The state cur- $75 per year for Oahu and the neighbor is- But as with other public works projects, the big issue is cost. rently owns the facility, which is managed by the City via executive lands, continental U.S. $80, foreign country $90. Copyright 2006-2012. The Hawaii Fil- Rather than fully restoring the natatorium which would have cost order. However, officials are moving towards rescinding the execu- ipino Chronicle Inc. is located at 94-356 upwards of $60 million, a City task force in 2009 recommended that tive order and returning control of the facility back to the State. Waipahu Depot, Waipahu, HI 96797. Tele- phone (808) 678-8930 Facsimile (808) 678- its crumbling bleachers and saltwater swimming pool be demol- A nearly-completed EIS that was required before the facility 1829. E-mail [email protected]. ished, its arches moved inland and the beach restored. Converting could be torn down has been put on hold while officials mull over Website: www.thefilipinochronicle.com. Opinions expressed by the columnists and the facility into a beach volleyball arena would require a new EIS, who will be in control. The cost of the current EIS is $1.3 million. contributors do not necessarily reflect those more public hearings and input from Friends of the Natatorium, The natatorium is reminiscent of the rail project, which is also on of the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle manage- ment. Reproduction of the contents in whole Kaimana Beach Coalition, Oahu Veterans Council and other organ- hold in the wake of a recent State Supreme Court ruling. If there is or in part is prohibited without written per- izations with vested interests in the fate of the natatorium. There are a lesson to be learned from the rail project, it’s that “haste makes mission from the management.