Comments on: What is the Real Goal of Fraud Investigations?

By: Carmen

Carmen — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 02:27:45 +0000

I work for an SLS agency in CA, and this exact issue has caused nothing but difficulty for our clients since it was implemented. It’s next to impossible to get new direct support staff into the IHSS system in a timely manner, existing staff have to pay for their own fingerprinting (where, in some counties, it costs up to $75 to get), and it’s negatively affecting our clients (most of whom require 24-hour support). IHSS is already full of red tape and incredibly difficult to navigate; this only makes it worse.

Obviously, it’s a good program that helps a lot of people, but right now it’s such a mess that it’s hurting PWD and their providers alike.

By: doorslam

doorslam — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 02:01:42 +0000

“He also said that her client, whose hands are frozen in a fist-like position because of his disability, would “probably” be exempted from new fingerprint requirements for homecare consumers.”

I don’t think I’ve ever read a sentence so vile in my life.

I wonder how many cases of fraud were what everyone pictures–perfectly able but lazy people using the service–and how many were people legitimately disabled and in need, but didn’t fit the high requirements, or had other important needs that weren’t approved of formally. But regardless, it’s really shameful.

By: abby jean

abby jean — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:44:54 +0000

well, they do both – because they’re convinced people are faking disability in order to get a paycheck for someone else. the investigations and hassle aren’t at all limited to where it would make sense to look for fraud, unfortunately.

By: Norah

Norah — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:44:22 +0000

It doesn’t work anyway (over here anyway), they keep a strict eye on the budget they give you, if you didn’t spend it on the specific care you were approved for (meaning if you either kept it or spent it wrong), you need to pay it all back. So that would just land you in debt.

I got a phonecall a while back asking if I was still autistic :S
My partner answered the call and handled the conversation, but they had me come to the phone and say “yes” (quite literally). Partner told me what question I was answering yes to. (-_-’)

By: thetroubleis

thetroubleis — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:18:52 +0000

Okay, that makes sense. I was picturing them investigating people’s “level of disability”, instead of the worker. Thanks.

By: abby jean

abby jean — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:59:17 +0000

the purpose of fraud would be to get a paycheck for a home care provider who didn’t need to provide home care – so free money for no work. and there are documented instances of this happening (for example, pdf link) – but not nearly enough to justify the expense and problems of this kind of super-aggressive fraud investigation.

By: thetroubleis

thetroubleis — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:21:39 +0000

I’m not even sure what someone would gain from faking needing in home care services. As you said, it obviously isn’t a problem and I’m just confused and angered by this.