Doris O'Brien is a retired college Speech teacher and banker. She has published two books of humor (Up or Down With Women's Liberation and Humor Me a Little) and for many years contributed light verse to the Pepper 'n Salt column of the Wall Street Journal. She is an avid writer of letters to the editors.
Doris celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary in the same year she welcomed her first grandchild. She now lives in Pasadena with a great view of the San Gabriel mountains — and the annual Tournament of Roses Parade.
She can be reached by e-mail: witsendob at (@) gmail.com
Pension Advance Transactions: Questionable Business Practices and the Federal Response
GAO identified at least 38 companies that offered individuals lump-sum payments or "advances" in exchange for receiving part or all of their pension payment streams. The 38 companies used multistep pension advance processes that included various other parties. At least 21 of the 38 companies were affiliated with each other in ways that were not apparent to consumers. more »
Medicare Fraud Reports From the Office of Inspector General and Recent State Enforcement Actions
One case: New York State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced [in August] that his office has secured settlement agreements with five defendants in a False Claims Act case that will return more than $8 million to the Medicaid and Medicare programs. The agreements resolve claims that SpecialCare Hospital Management Corporation defrauded Medicaid and Medicare by illegally referring patients to unlicensed drug and alcohol treatment programs at Columbia Memorial Hospital in Hudson, and St. Joseph's Medical Center in Yonkers, in exchange for kickbacks. more »
States Attack the Pay Gap Between Women and Men; Latinas Earn 54% of What White Men Earn.
over a casual lunch three years ago, her colleagues shared their salaries. Rizo, 41, the only full-time woman in her office, was startled to discover that some of her male co-workers — including a new hire with less experience and education — were being paid at least $10,000 more than she was. Rizo sued the county, and her case is pending in US District Court. more »
British Museum's Celtic Exhibit: A 700 AD Brooch of Silver, Gold and Amber Belonging to 'Melbrigda'
The British Museum, in partnership with National Museums Scotland, has staged the first British exhibition in 40 years on the Celts. The exhibition tells the story of the different peoples who have used or been given the name 'Celts' through the art objects that they made, including intricately decorated jewelery, highly stylized objects of religious devotion, and the decorative arts of the late 19th century which were inspired by the past. more »
