By Katheryn Houghton and Arielle Zionts, KFF Health News (TNS) Tescha Hawley learned that hospital bills from her son’s birth had been sent to debt collectors only when she checked her credit score while attending a home-buying class. The new mom’s plans to buy a house stalled. Hawley said she didn’t owe those thousands of dollars in debts. The federal government did. Hawley, a citizen of the Gros Ventre Tribe, lives on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in Montana. The Indian Health Service is a federal agency that provides free health care to Native Americans, but its services are limited by a chronic shortage of funding and staff. Hawley’s local Indian Health Service hospital wasn’t equipped to deliver babies. But she said staff there agreed that the agency would pay for her care at a privately owned hospital more than an hour away. That arrangement came through the Purchased/Referred Care program, which pays for services Native Americans can’t get through an agency-funded clinic or hospital. Federal law stresses that patients approved for the program aren’t responsible for any of the costs. But tribal leaders, health officials, and a new federal report say patients are routinely billed anyway as a result of backlogs or mistakes from the Indian Health Service, financial middlemen, hospitals, and clinics. The financial consequences for patients can last years. Those sent to collections can face damaged credit scores, which can prevent them from securing loans or require them to pay higher interest rates. The December report , by the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, found these long-standing problems contribute to people in Native American-majority communities being nearly twice as likely to have medical debt in collections compared with the national average. And their amount of medical debt is significantly higher. The report found the program is often late to pay bills. In some cases, hospitals or collection agencies hound tribal citizens for more money after bills are paid. Hawley’s son was born in 2003. She had to wait another year to buy a home, as she struggled to pay off the debt. It took seven years for it to drop from her credit report. “I don’t think a person ever recovers from debt,” Hawley said. Hawley, a cancer survivor, still must navigate the referral program. In 2024 alone, she received two notices from clinics about overdue bills. Frank White Clay, chairman of the Crow Tribe in Montana, testified about the impact of wrongful billing during a U.S. House committee hearing in April. He shared stories of veterans rejected for home loans, elders whose Social Security benefits were reduced, and students denied college loans and federal aid. “Some of the most vulnerable people are being harassed daily by debt collectors,” White Clay said. No one is immune from the risk. A high-ranking Indian Health Service official learned during her job’s background check that her credit report contained referred-care debt, the federal report found. Native Americans face disproportionately high rates of poverty and disease , which researchers link to limited access to health care and the ongoing impact of racist federal policies . White Clay is among many who say problems with the referred-care program are an example of the U.S. government violating treaties that promised to provide for the health and welfare of tribes in return for their land. The chairman’s testimony came during a hearing on the Purchased and Referred Care Improvement Act, which would require the Indian Health Service to create a reimbursement process for patients who were wrongfully billed. Committee members approved the bill in November and sent it for consideration by the full House. A second federal bill, the Protecting Native Americans’ Credit Act , would prevent debt like Hawley’s from affecting patients’ credit scores. The bipartisan bill hadn’t had a hearing by mid-December. The exact number of people wrongfully billed isn’t clear, but the Indian Health Service has acknowledged it has work to do. The agency is developing a dashboard to help workers track referrals and to speed up bill processing, spokesperson Brendan White said. It’s also trying to hire more referred-care staff, to address vacancy rates of more than 30%. Officials say problems with the program also stem from outside health providers that don’t follow the rules. Melanie Egorin, an assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said at the hearing that the proposed legislation doesn’t include consequences for “bad actors” — health facilities that repeatedly bill patients when they shouldn’t. “The lack of enforcement is definitely a challenge,” she said. But tribal leaders warned that penalties could backfire. Related Articles Health | How America lost control of the bird flu, setting the stage for another pandemic Health | How to kick back, relax and embrace a less-than-perfect holiday Health | New childhood leukemia protocol is ‘tremendous win’ Health | For some FSA dollars, it’s use it or lose it at year’s end Health | Norovirus is rampant. Blame oysters, cruise ships and holiday travel White Clay told lawmakers that some clinics already refuse to see patients if the Indian Health Service hasn’t paid for their previous appointments. He’s worried the threat of penalties would lead to more refusals. If that happens, White Clay said, Crow tribal members who already travel hours to access specialty treatment would have to go even farther. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau report found clinics are already refusing to see any referred-care patients due to the program’s payment problems. The bureau and the Indian Health Service also recently published a letter urging health care providers and debt collectors not to hold patients accountable for program-approved care. White, the Indian Health Service spokesperson, said the agency recently updated the referred-care forms sent to outside hospitals and clinics to include billing instructions and to stress that patients aren’t liable for any out-of-pocket costs. And he said the staff can help patients get reimbursed if they have already paid for services that were supposed to be covered. Joe Bryant, an Indian Health Service official who oversees efforts to improve the referral program, said patients can ask credit bureaus to remove debt from their reports if the agency should have covered their bills. Leaders with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation in Washington state helped shape the proposed legislation after their citizens were repeatedly harmed by wrongful billing. Tribal Chairman Jarred-Michael Erickson said problems began in 2017, when a regional Indian Health Service office took over the referred-care program from local staff. It “created a domino effect of negative outcomes,” Erickson wrote in a letter to Congress. He said some tribal members whose finances were damaged stopped using the Indian Health Service. Others avoided health care altogether. Responsibility for the Colville Reservation program transferred back to local staff in 2022. Staffers found the billing process hadn’t been completed for thousands of cases, worth an estimated $24 million in medical care, Erickson told lawmakers . Workers are making progress on the backlog and they have explained the rules to outside hospitals and clinics, Erickson said. But he said there are still cases of wrongful billing, such as a tribal member who was sent to collections after receiving a $17,000 bill for chemotherapy that the agency was supposed to pay for. Erickson said the tribe is in the process of taking over its health care facilities instead of having the Indian Health Service run them. He and others who work in Native American health said tribally managed units — which are still funded by the federal agency — tend to have fewer problems with their referred-care programs. For example, they have more oversight over staff and flexibility to create their own payment tracking systems. But some Native Americans oppose tribal management because they feel it releases the federal government from its obligations. Beyond wrongful billing, access to the referred-care program is limited because of underfunding from Congress. The $1 billion budget this year is $9 billion short of the need, according to a committee report by tribal health and government leaders. Donald Warne, a physician and member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, called the proposed legislation a “band-aid.” He said the ultimate solution is for Congress to fully fund the Indian Health Service, which would reduce the need for the referred-care program. Back in Montana, Hawley said she braces for a fight each time she gets a bill that the referral program was supposed to cover. “I’ve learned not to trust the process,” Hawley said. ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
After two years of planning and two more years of construction, the Hindu Temple & Cultural Centre at the corner of Ellice Ave. and Burnell St. has undergone a modernization. With a new facade, windows, an elevator and commercial kitchen, the $1.8 million dollar renovation means the temple is poised to host its hundreds of attendees, both now and far into the future. “As long as it serves the purpose of the community, we’re happy,” said Renovations committee chair Rao Atmuri. “That’s about it, the rest doesn’t matter.” The building was originally constructed in 1950 as a church. In the late 70s, the Hindu Society of Manitoba purchased the building converting it into a Hindu temple in 1983. These were the last major renovations done to the building and it was in need of a visual and functional upgrade. Beyond the aesthetic value that the renovations have brought, Hindu Society of Manitoba’s board president, Kirit Thakrar, says that these updates are critical for aligning with Winnipeg’s evolving Hindu community. He says many of the Hindu temple’s original patrons are aging, meaning that equipment like an elevator is becoming a necessity, and at the same time, Winnipeg has been seeing an influx of newcomers who are looking to come to the temple to engage in puja, enjoy meals and meet others. “Immigration is increasing now, and lots of people are coming,” Thakrar says. “This is where everything starts when people first move to Winnipeg.” The Ellice temple’s location and proximity to the University of Winnipeg means that the temple is often a landing pad for Hindus from downtown to the Maples. For instance, on Nov. 21st, individuals at the temple were preparing for the Akhand Ramayan Path, a continuous 24-hour recitation of the Shri Ramcharitmanas - a 16th century epic poem telling to story of Ramayana. “On the 23rd, we have a big program and we can have about seven, eight hundred people,” Thakrar says. The building’s renovations mean that more people are able to participate in prayer and the meals which are served after celebrations as the building’s basement has massively increased its capacity with more seating and a fully stainless steel commercial kitchen. Thakrar says that the Hindu temple does more than just host religious cermonies. The space is also used for cultural and social needs in the wider community, such as lectures on health and finances and hosting school groups from across the city. The renovations were conducted by a committee of board and non-board members, including Thakrar, Vijay Punj, Rao Atmuri, Prem Sanggar and Surinder Goyal. Atmuri says that they “were all there almost from day number one.” Walking around the building, it is clear that the members are proud of the work they have done and their ability to serve the expanding local community.Northrop Grumman Corp. stock underperforms Tuesday when compared to competitors despite daily gainsRevelers at a Christmas fair in Mexico were left horrified as they witnessed a fair ride collapse and injured two riders. Video from the festival, which was held at Acapulco Golf Club Monda, showed the ride — which was shaped like the Eiffel Tower and featured cable cars — tilting before it ultimately crashed to the ground . In a video obtained by The Daily Mail , one of the cars can be seen snapping off the line as the structure fell. The resulting crash injured Aldo Maldonado, a 35-year-old who was in town visiting from Mexico City, and Iván Gómez, also 35 and a resident of Acapulco, who were promptly treated at the scene by emergency services. According to officials, both men sustained non-life-threatening injuries but were rushed to Acqua Acapulco Hospital. Both are reportedly in stable condition . The outlet stated that shortly after the crash, Guerrero State Integral Risk Management Department and Civil Protection dispatched investigators to the scene to discover the cause of the accident. Heart-stopping moment falling drones injure boy during Orlando Christmas light show City to launch trial sending drones to 911 calls ahead of first responders It was reported that the investigators discovered that the tower was not anchored properly to the ground and that it was set up without a support mechanism. Investigators also reportedly found that the tower and other machine rides were not operating in accordance with guidelines that were instituted by the government. The outlet reported that despite the knowledge of lax safety measures, ride operators continued to run the machines normally. Many social media users who had seen the video, stated that they were not surprised that the structure had fallen over. "Strange? No. They never inspect those games and even less give them permission after a bribe," one person commented on the video. "Stop using mechanical rides," a second person added. "I think that governments and municipalities should certify (just as they close down a business) and put a seal on each ride (name and signature). There is no seal. It is not safe. And if it fails, we know who to complain to," they added. The incident comes after another holiday-related activity resulted in a seven-year-old being injured by a drone during a holiday light show. Alexander Edgerton, just seven years old, was rushed to the hospital for emergency heart surgery after getting hit with a falling drone at Saturday's Lake Eola Park show in Orlando. During the 6:30 pm show, "several small drones collided and fell into a crowd," according to a release by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is investigating the incident. Adriana Edgerton, the boy's mom, said her family was watching the show before Alexander was hit in the chest and the lip. "Everyone’s natural instinct was to duck and scatter, and right when we knew it, my daughter found my son on the floor unconscious, blood coming out of his face," Edgerton told WESH 2 . "I feel so bad, it's three days before Christmas," she added as her son continues to recover in the hospital. Alexander was the only person injured at the show, the Orlando Fire Department said. DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter.
NEW YORK, Nov. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a lawsuit has been filed against ASML Holding N.V. ASML and certain of the Company's senior executives for potential violations of the federal securities laws. If you invested in ASML, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/asml-holding-nv . Investors have until January 13, 2025, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors in ASML securities. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and is captioned City of Hollywood Firefighters' Pension Fund v. ASML Holding N.V., et al. , No. 24-cv-8664. What is the Lawsuit About? ASML is a leading supplier to the semiconductor industry, providing photolithography machines to chipmakers that are used in the semiconductor fabrication process. The complaint alleges that ASML repeatedly represented to shareholders that new export controls on semiconductor technology announced by the Dutch government would not have a material effect on ASML's financial outlook, and that ASML was on a path to recovery in its sales. On October 15, 2024, ASML announced earnings significantly lower than expectations. The Company attributed this to a market that was "taking longer to recover" and admitted that "[i]t now appears the recovery is more gradual than previously expected." On this news, the price of the Company's stock fell 16%, from a closing price of $872.27 per share on October 14, 2024, to $730.43 per share on October 15, 2024. Then, during the accompanying earnings call with investors on October 16, 2024, the Company attributed the poor earnings results to "a reflection of the slow recovery in the traditional [semiconductor] end markets as customers remain cautious in the current environment." The Company also disclosed that the decline in ASML's sales to China would also negatively impact the Company's gross margins. On this news, the price of the Company's stock fell 6.4%, from a closing price of $730.43 per share on October 15, 2024, to $683.52 per share on October 16, 2024. Click here if you suffered losses: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/asml-holding-nv . What Can You Do? If you invested in ASML you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm. All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses. Submit your information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/asml-holding-nv Or contact: Ross Shikowitz ross@bfalaw.com 212-789-3619 Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP? Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It was named among the Top 5 plaintiff law firms by ISS SCAS in 2023 and its attorneys have been named Titans of the Plaintiffs' Bar by Law360 and SuperLawyers by Thompson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.'s Board of Directors (pending court approval), as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd. For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com . https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/asml-holding-nv Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Seahawks place running back Kenneth Walker III on injured reserve