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READ: Dr. Oz puts all 50 governors on notice over billions lost to Medicaid fraud
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FIRST ON FOX: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz is putting state leaders on notice to root out rampant fraud, directing them in letters Thursday to take immediate action within days to identify and remove noncompliant Medicaid providers.
«Corrupt individuals and organizations masquerading as health care providers are defrauding Medicaid, and American taxpayers, of billions of dollars each year, placing valuable resources out of reach for those the program was intended to serve: low-income senior citizens, children, and disabled individuals. Classes of providers with less rigorous [enrollment standards]…» Oz wrote in a letter, obtained by Fox News Digital, sent to each of the nation’s 50 governors on Thursday morning.
Oz has given governors and state Medicaid leaders 10 business days to tell CMS whether they will commit to conducting a swift «revalidation» of high-risk Medicaid providers and provide a proposed timetable, alongside a separate 30-day deadline for a broader provider-revalidation strategy, escalating federal pressure on states to tighten anti-fraud enforcement.
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«Corrupt individuals and organizations masquerading as health care providers are defrauding Medicaid, and American taxpayers, of billions of dollars each year,» wrote Oz. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Oz said it is «urgent that action be taken immediately.»
«Failure to [commit to the revalidation plan] will be considered as we evaluate the likelihood of fraud in each state moving forward,» Oz stated.
States must also submit, within 30 days, a broader two-year strategy outlining how they will review healthcare providers for legitimacy and compliance.
The letters sent to the 50 governors all contained the same information directions, with Fox News Digital obtaining a copy sent to the state of Alabama.
KAROLINE LEAVITT WARNS ‘PEOPLE WILL BE IN HANDCUFFS’ AS FEDS ZERO IN ON MINNESOTA FRAUD SCANDAL
«While the factors contributing to fraud are multifaceted and require a comprehensive approach to address, a revalidation process for high-risk providers will immediately deter criminal actors from continuing their fraud schemes, as the federal and state governments closely review and scrutinize the qualifications of providers to suspend or terminate clearly abusive actors from the program,» Oz wrote.
Medicaid fraud has been of particular interest to the Trump administration. (Pool/Fox News)
The letters target providers at «high risk of waste, fraud, abuse, and corruption,» particularly those with «less rigorous enrollment and billing requirements,» with CMS directing states to include any provider operating without a National Provider Identifier.
A second letter was also sent to each state Medicaid director reiterating the call for a revalidation strategy tailored to each state.
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«Our analysis of national trends strongly suggests a persistent and growing Medicaid threat posed by sophisticated actors knowingly exploiting these complex systems for financial gain,» Oz wrote.
Proposals must include a methodology and timeline for off-cycle provider revalidation (with emphasis on high-risk providers and those without NPIs); metrics to measure effectiveness and progress (including public reporting); processes for ongoing verification of provider information; strategies to ensure consistency and accuracy of provider data across fee-for-service and managed care systems (including oversight of managed care directories); and coordination with relevant law enforcement partners.
In 2022, Minnesota’s $250 million «Feeding Our Future» scheme has led to a wave of convictions in recent years. (Alex Wong/Getty Images; Rick Kern/Getty Images for Vox Media)
Medicaid fraud has been of particular interest to the Trump administration given the massive fraud scandal that has unfolded in Minnesota.
The push comes amid heightened focus on large-scale fraud cases, including Minnesota’s $250 million «Feeding Our Future» scheme, which became a national flashpoint after surfacing in 2022 and has led to a wave of convictions in recent years.
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A separate state-commissioned review of Minnesota’s Medicaid program this year identified vulnerabilities across 14 high-risk services and estimated that up to $1.7 billion in payments over four years may have been improper — findings that have intensified federal scrutiny and calls for reform.
CMS is also weighing Medicaid deferrals in states including California, New York and Maine, signaling potential legal battles as federal and state officials clash over enforcement.
minnesota fraud exposed, mehmet mz, health, politics
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La Universidad de El Salvador identifica dos genotipos del virus Epstein-Barr en linfomas de Hodgkin
La Universidad de El Salvador (UES) confirmó la presencia de los genotipos uno y dos del virus Epstein-Barr en linfomas de Hodgkin diagnosticados en el país, un hallazgo que aporta bases para futuras investigaciones sobre el comportamiento clínico y las alternativas terapéuticas de estos tumores en la región.
La investigación, a cargo del Laboratorio de Virología de la Facultad de Medicina, pone en relieve la importancia de caracterizar a nivel molecular los tumores vinculados a este virus, que puede estar presente en más del 90% de la población mundial.
Carlos Ortega, médico y biólogo molecular experto en virología y responsable del laboratorio, explicó en entrevista con Infobae que el virus Epstein-Barr es un virus de ADN descubierto el siglo pasado a partir de su relación con tumores.
“Más del noventa por ciento de la población puede estar infectada por el virus a nivel mundial”, detalló el especialista, quien también es profesor del Departamento de Microbiología de la Facultad de Medicina.
La infección suele ser asintomática, aunque en algunos casos provoca mononucleosis infecciosa y, en menor medida, se asocia a tumores como el linfoma de Hodgkin, linfoma no Hodgkin, linfoma Burkitt y otros.
El estudio de la Universidad de El Salvador comprobó que ambos genotipos principales del virus —el tipo uno y el tipo dos— están implicados en linfomas de Hodgkin entre la población infantil salvadoreña.
Ortega explicó que “el linfoma de Hodgkin es un tumor de linfocito B, una célula clave del sistema inmune”. Cuando se produce la infección, “el virus Epstein-Barr infecta estos linfocitos y permanece latente de por vida, por factores ambientales, de inmunosupresión o genéticos, esta infección puede transformar el linfocito B y provocar el cáncer”, detalló el galeno.
El médico aclaró que, aunque la presencia del virus no explica la totalidad de los casos, sí contribuye a la inmortalización de estas células en un porcentaje importante.
“Ambos genotipos, uno y dos, son capaces de provocar la transformación del linfocito B en un linfocito anormal, lo que desemboca en el linfoma. El comportamiento clínico, epidemiológico y de pronóstico puede variar dependiendo del genotipo involucrado”, señaló Ortega.
Antes de este trabajo, en El Salvador no existían datos sobre la prevalencia de los genotipos del virus en linfomas infantiles y adultos. Según el equipo de investigación, conocer estos genotipos es clave para establecer comparaciones con otros países y avanzar hacia mejores alternativas terapéuticas.
“En nuestro país no se había demostrado cuáles eran los genotipos que estaban relacionados con los linfomas que se diagnostican, en particular el linfoma de Hodgkin”, subrayó Ortega.
El hallazgo resultó de una colaboración previa a la pandemia entre el Laboratorio de Virología y Microbiología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de El Salvador, y el Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, División de Patología, del Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Además se contó con el apoyo de la Red Iberoamericana de Linfomas-RIALCYTED.
Sobre la continuidad del estudio, el médico explicó que “el siguiente paso es analizar el comportamiento clínico de los linfomas en relación con los genotipos del virus en más casos”. Asimismo, desean investigar variantes dentro de cada genotipo y comparar la filogenia de los virus detectados en El Salvador con la de otros países, lo que podría contribuir a mejorar el diagnóstico y tratamiento de los pacientes.
“Esto permitirá una mejor caracterización de estos tumores y, en consecuencia, un mejor tratamiento. Ya existen fármacos dirigidos a proteínas del virus que transforman el linfocito B, lo que abre la puerta a la medicina de precisión”, dijo Ortega.
El galeno agregó que la Universidad de El Salvador busca contribuir a la caracterización molecular de estos tumores para facilitar el acceso a tratamientos más efectivos, aunque reconoció que el costo de los diagnósticos y tratamientos sigue siendo elevado para la mayoría de la población.
“El tratamiento del linfoma de Hodgkin puede superar miles de dólares por paciente durante todo el proceso terapéutico, ya que habitualmente se requieren varios ciclos de tratamiento y seguimiento especializado”, indicó.
En cuanto al acceso, Ortega aclaró que tanto en el sector público como privado existe la posibilidad de caracterizar muchos de estos tumores, aunque en la práctica la mayoría de la población depende del sistema público por el alto costo de los tratamientos.
Destacó que existe una fundación que colabora activamente con el Hospital Nacional de Niños Benjamín Bloom para ayudar en la terapia de los infantes con cáncer, incluido el linfoma de Hodgkin.
Sobre el cuadro clínico, el médico mencionó que “el síntoma inicial puede ser un ganglio inflamado en el cuello u otra región, a veces puede acompañarse de fiebre prolongada, sudoración nocturna, y otros síntomas inespecíficos”. El diagnóstico requiere estudios especializados y biopsia, “y los pacientes deben ser derivados al Hospital de tercer nivel”.
El especialista reiteró que solo un pequeño porcentaje de todos los infectados desarrolla linfoma u otra neoplasia relacionada con el virus, ya que influyen factores genéticos, de inmunosupresión y ambientales.
“Los fármacos usados para tratar el linfoma de Hodgkin se basan en esquemas terapéuticos bien establecidos y su utilización se fundamenta principalmente en la caracterización clínico-patológica del tumor.
No obstante, la caracterización molecular del linfoma, incluida la identificación del virus de Epstein-Barr y de sus genotipos, aporta información valiosa para comprender los mecanismos biológicos de la enfermedad, su comportamiento clínico-epidemiológico, y el desarrollo a futuro de terapias más específicas”, aseguró el galeno.
Agregó que “este conocimiento podría contribuir a optimizar el manejo de los pacientes y mejorar su pronóstico a medida que avancen las estrategias de medicina de precisión”; por ejemplo, para atacar específicamente los antígenos con función oncogénica del virus Epstein-Barr en los linfomas.
Finalmente, el especialista destacó que el avance en biología molecular tras la pandemia fortaleció la capacidad del país para caracterizar tumores y diagnosticar casos, aunque insistió en que aún falta mucho por investigar sobre la relación entre los diferentes genotipos del virus y el comportamiento clínico de los linfomas entre la población infantil del país.
ues,el salvador,medicina el salvador
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Jeffries welcomes Democratic Socialists into the fold as critics warn party is revealing ‘exactly who it is’
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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries publicly embraced a new crop of congressional nominees Saturday, including three Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates whose primary victories have fueled fresh debate over the Democratic Party’s leftward shift ahead of the 2026 midterms.
The powerful New York lawmaker’s post highlights the challenge facing the top House Democrat as he works to unite his party ahead of the general election. If Democrats take back the House in November, Jeffries is expected to become the next speaker. That means he’ll likely be leading a Democratic caucus with more self-described Democratic Socialists than ever before. So far, more than a dozen Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates have won or advanced in primaries across the country this election cycle.
In a post on X, Jeffries wrote, «Congratulations to our Democratic nominees,» before listing the party’s congressional candidates from across New York. Among those recognized were Brad Lander, Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier, all of whom are affiliated with or backed by the Democratic Socialists of America and secured victories in closely watched Democratic primaries last week.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has called Trump official Bill Pulte a «malignant clown.» (Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg)
«From public servants to union organizers to community activists, the path is different but the work is the same,» Jeffries wrote. «We must decisively address the affordability crisis and crush far-right extremism!»
RISING SOCIALIST STARS ON TRACK TO CONGRESS: WHO ARE DARIALIZA AVILA CHEVALIER, BRAD LANDER AND CLAIRE VALDEZ?
Lander, Chevalier and Valdez all received backing from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose endorsements helped cement the growing influence of the Democratic Party’s progressive wing in New York politics. Lander and Chevalier defeated Jeffries-endorsed incumbents Reps. Dan Goldman and Adriano Espaillat in their respective Democratic primaries. Jeffries did not endorse in the race won by Claire Valdez, which was an open seat.
Now, as Democrats turn their attention to the general election, he appears to be rallying behind the party’s nominees as they try to win back the House in November.
The candidates have also faced scrutiny over resurfaced social media posts, support for defunding the police and anti-Israel rhetoric, positions that have put them at odds with many in the Democratic Party.
Socialist New York congressional nominees Darializa Avila Chevalier (L), Claire Valdez (C) and Brad Lander. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images; Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Chevalier has faced scrutiny over resurfaced social media posts, including one in which she called to «literally abolish the border.»
She has also faced renewed scrutiny over past social media posts targeting leading Democrats, including calling former President Joe Biden a «war criminal,» attacking former Vice President Kamala Harris and rebuking Sen. Bernie Sanders over Israel.
Like Chevalier, Valdez and Lander, who is Jewish, share her sentiment that Israel is committing «genocide» in Gaza.
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Jeffries’ decision to publicly congratulate the three nominees quickly drew criticism.
The Republican Jewish Coalition blasted Jeffries’ congratulatory message, warning Jewish voters that these candidates are not the Democrat «fringe» but the new faces of the party.
«To Jewish Democrats: your party is telling you EXACTLY who it is,» the Coalition wrote. «These future members of Congress, who @hakeemjeffries is welcoming with open arms, want to: Abolish prisons and borders. Defund the police. Downplay 9/11,» rattling off other serious controversies stemming from the candidates.
Jamie Metzl, a former National Security Council and State Department official and lifelong Democrat, blasted Jeffries for congratulating the nominees.
New York City Mayor Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks at a news conference Thursday in Manhattan. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
«When I first read this post, I assumed it was from a spoof account. I am deeply concerned that it appears to be all too real,» Metzl wrote. «To welcome these nominees without acknowledging and criticizing their self-declared sympathies for U.S.-designated terrorist organizations, their calls to abolish the police, their stated desire to dismantle Western civilization, and their blatant anti-Americanism is to sacrifice the core principles of the Democratic Party.»
Metzl accused Jeffries of putting his bid to become House speaker ahead of the Democratic Party’s principles.
«I understand your ambition to become Speaker should Democrats retake the House, but you should not sacrifice the principles of our party to advance your own political aspirations,» Metzl wrote.
Democratic leadership has been in the hot seat this week facing questions from the media about how to reconcile support for the New York slate of socialist candidates, particularly after Valdez’s supporters were seen shouting «you’re next» at a television screen showing Jeffries on Tuesday night.
«They’re gonna eat you next Congressman – and replace you with one of their own,» conservative commentator Meghan McCain posted on X.
«This is funny,» conservative commentator Robby Starbuck posted on X. «Hakeem still doesn’t realize that the communists are going to eat him alive. Clearly not a student of history. Bless his heart.»
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In a CNN appearance on Friday, Jeffries said, «I think that what happens in a handful of primaries in one of the bluest cities in the country is not in any way indicative of what needs to happen in November, where we need to reelect every single frontline Member, common sense Democrats, authentically committed to making life better for the American people, opposing these extreme Republicans who have been nothing but a reckless rubber stamp for Donald Trump’s agenda.»
«And at the same period of time, make sure that we flip red seats blue, including in New York-17, where we have a combat veteran, incredibly patriotic American Cait Conley, who came out of a primary on Tuesday as well and is an incredibly strong candidate. She will defeat Mike Lawler in New York in November.»
ericadams, primary results, democrats, zohran mamdani, democratic party
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