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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) —
A push by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for more undercover operations has led to citations for nearly 1,600 violations.
Agency officials in Austin say the bulk of the effort targeted retailers wrongfully serving people under age 21, which is the legal limit for consuming alcohol.
The TABC on Monday released results for its 2015 fiscal year, in which nearly 14,600 stings were done. That compares with about 12,800 undercover operations the previous fiscal year.
The 2015 stings led to 1,137 violations, resulting in cases against businesses or employees who sold alcohol to consumers under age 21.
Other operations led to 455 alcohol violations including sales to an intoxicated person, intoxicated permittees and violations of legal hours for selling alcohol.
The TABC oversees more than 43,000 licensed establishments statewide.
AMARILLO, Texas —
A licensed psychiatrist from San Angelo, Texas, Robert Hadley Gross, 58, pleaded guilty last week to one count of health care fraud stemming from a scheme he ran to defraud Medicare and Medicaid by submitting claims for services not rendered in the manner billed, including submitting claims for services allegedly rendered after patients’ deaths. The announcement was made today by U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.
Gross faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. In addition, according to the plea agreement filed in the case, he agrees to pay $1,832,869 in restitution to the U.S., representing all overpayments made to Gross from health care providers during the scheme. Gross has been in federal custody since his arrest in mid-October 2014 on related charges outlined in a federal indictment.
According to documents filed in the case, beginning in January 2009 and continuing until approximately June 20, 2014, Gross filed, and caused to be filed, claims against Medicare, Medicaid, and other health insurance carriers, for payment for services that were never rendered and services that were billed using inappropriate CPT codes.
Gross regularly submitted claims for services rendered to nursing home residents in and around San Angelo and he also regularly submitted claims for services provided to clients of mental health and mental retardation (MHMR) organizations in San Angelo, Midland, and Abilene, Texas, in addition to claims for services provided to foster care children in Brownwood, Texas.
As part of his scheme, Gross filed claims against Medicare, Medicaid, and other health insurance carriers for services for nursing home patients on dates he did not actually render services to patients. In those instances, the patients may have died or been discharged before Gross allegedly visited them in the nursing home.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Office of the Texas Attorney General are investigating. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann Cruce-Haag and Deputy Criminal Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise Williams are prosecuting. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Fahey is handling the forfeiture.
PROSPER, Texas (AP) —
A North Texas teacher said Friday that she was improperly reprimanded after reporting another teacher had allegedly made sexual advances toward a student.
MariBeth Thomas was criticized by the principal for reporting the incident to city police rather than to the school system's police, the Dallas Morning News reports (http://bit.ly/1jjuLhw ), citing a recording of a meeting shared with the newspaper.
"I'm all about PR and how this high school looks, and we're going to take care of this young lady, and we're going to do it in a confidential manner to protect her, to protect all parties that are involved," Prosper High School Principal Greg Wright said in the recording.
Thomas told school officials a student told her another teacher sat close to her and touched her leg during a tutoring session.
After three other students left, the educator moved his chair next to the girl and told the student in a soft voice, "I like you," according to the recording.
Thomas told the teachers that the girl said she felt his finger on her leg and she left.
Thomas' attorneys allege the school district violated a state law meant to protect those who report allegations of abuse. They have called for an independent investigation into the March meeting.
Thomas' attorneys, Debbie Sanchez and Victoria Neave, say Prosper Independent School District has created confusion and fear for other teachers who are legally obligated to report similar allegations.
"What Prosper ISD has essentially done has a chilling effect for teachers to report outcries of abuse in the future," said Neave.
School officials told the newspaper that they did nothing wrong.
"Was it an uncomfortable meeting? Absolutely. Was she reprimanded? No," said Michael Goddard, the district's assistant superintendent.
Thomas, 44, resigned as a health science technology teacher after three years with the school district.