What normal people can see and imagine is that three Ebola cases have severely stressed the system. Washington is scrambling, the Centers for Disease Control is embarrassed, local hospitals are rushing to learn protocols and get in all necessary equipment. Nurses groups and unions have been enraged, the public alarmed—and all this after only three cases. -Peggy Noonan Go To Site

"It is unacceptable that HHS fails to maintain accurate financial records and fails to adhere to federal law designed to protect taxpayer dollars from mismanagement and waste." -Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) Go To Site

Health-care fraud is estimated to cost the government at least $60 billion a year, mainly in losses to Medicare and Medicaid. Officials say the fraud involves everything from sophisticated marketing schemes by major pharmaceuticals encouraging doctors to prescribe drugs for unauthorized uses to selling motorized wheelchairs to people who don’t need them. Go To Site

Audit: Doctors are overprescribing drugs to get Medicare cash

Government, Incompetence, Oops, Greed, Healthcare, Drugs

A Medicare program designed to offset costs at hospitals serving the poor is likely prompting doctors to over-prescribe drugs to their patients, according to a new federal audit. Hospitals that participate in Medicare’s 340B Drug Pricing Program are either prescribing more drugs or more expensive drugs to their patients compared to hospitals that don’t qualify for the program, investigators found.

At President's Urging, People Call Exchange Hotline But Can't Get Through

Democrat, Liberal, Government, Incompetence, Obama, Oops, Socialism, Healthcare, Law, Regulation

President Obama emerged on Monday to assure Americans that the “kinks” surrounding the federal and state health-care exchanges are improving and urged consumers to call the exchange hotline if they continue to encounter problems online. Shortly after he made the suggestion, Twitter lit up with reporters and others who attempted to do so but failed to get through to a navigator as promised. After dialing the number, some callers got a busy signal, others received an automated message, and yet others were referred back to Healthcare.gov.

HHS Website For Girls, 10 to 16, Informs Youth About Birth Control, Gay Sex, 'Mutual Masturbation'

Liberal, Incitement, Government, Character, Sex, Degeneracy, Gay

A government website designed for girls ages 10 to 16 offers health advice and information on a wide range of topics, including homosexuality, anal sex and “mutual masturbation.” The Health and Human Services’ girlshealth.gov includes tips on fitness and nutrition and an “environmental health” section where girls can read about leading a “green” lifestyle. But the site also includes a glossary that explains anal sex and “mutual masturbation” and includes information about birth control and how to access everything from condoms to “emergency contraceptives.”

HHS financial management practices 'unacceptable,' lawmakers say - FederalTimes.com

Government, Incompetence, Financial, Oops

Coburn and Boustany are also seeking an explanation of an approximately $500 million discrepancy between the department's general ledger and the Treasury Department's records, as well as almost $900 million reported on the financial statements of HHS operating divisions that could not be reconciled with supporting documentation.

Flu Shot Shortage Shows Government Incompetence

Government, Incompetence

How can the government pretend that it can manage, overhaul, streamline and reform the health care system in the United States when it can't even deliver enough flu shots to prevent a pandemic?

Audit Finds CDC Misplaced $8M in Equipment

Government, Incompetence

ATLANTA -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lost or misplaced more than $8 million in property in 2007, losing track of items including computer and video equipment, government auditors say.