seriously you haven't been paying attention the past few years. rt (russian state media aka propaganda) acts like your fren, then kicks you in the balls when you start to trust them. it's like an abusive relationship mkultra where they be nice then treat you like shit.
California must pay feds $53M over 'improperly' claimed reimbursements for noncitizens
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (TND) — California owes the federal government $52.7 million after it “improperly” requested reimbursements for services provided to noncitizens, according to a recent inspector general report.
The Golden State claimed Medicaid reimbursements for services it provided to “noncitizens with unsatisfactory immigration status,” the report reads. The category does not include those seeking asylum or refugees. States are prohibited from claiming such federal reimbursements except in medical emergency situations, which did not apply here, according to the report.
An audit by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services inspector general’s office found California had been using an outdated calculation method to determine how much federal reimbursements to claim between Oct. 2018 and June 2019. This calculation did not account for the services given to noncitizens, which must be funded by the state, according to the report.
“We recommend that California: (1) refund to the Federal Government the improperly claimed Federal reimbursement of $52.7 million for capitation payments made on behalf of noncitizens with UIS and (2) work with CMS to determine the amount of any improperly claimed Federal reimbursement for capitation payments made on behalf of noncitizens with UIS for an agreed-upon period not covered by our audit,” auditors wrote.
A spokesperson for the California Department of Health Care Services told The National Desk (TND) the state "does not contest the findings" and will repay the federal government in full by June 30.
Additionally, DHCS has worked with the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to develop and implement a more refined service identification methodology with updated payment and claiming processes," the spokesperson said.
The news comes as California leaders face a $27.6 billion deficit to the state’s budget, prompting Gov. Gavin Newsom to eye aggressive budget cuts. California is one of several states currently facing deficits, as Maryland, Minnesota and Massachusetts are also experiencing sizable budget shortfalls of their own.
https://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/california-must-pay-feds-53m-over-improperly-claimed-reimbursements-for-noncitizens-governor-gavin-newsom-golden-state-medicaid-inspector-general-department-of-health-and-human-services-immigration-migrants-citizenship
Mexican food chain closing 48 Calif. locations due to 'rising cost' of business in state
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (TND) — Mexican food chain Rubio’s Coastal Grill is closing 48 locations throughout California, a spokesperson told The National Desk (TND) Tuesday.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2023 signed a law raising the state minimum wage of fast food workers to $20 per hour. The law went into effect in Jan. Owners of fast casual chain Chipotle previously warned the measure would lead to a “substantial increase” in food prices for California customers.
A Rubio’s spokesperson did not mention the law directly, but attributed the decision to the “rising cost of doing business” in the state.
“Rubio’s Coastal Grill, Home of the Original Fish Taco, after a thorough review of its operations and the current business climate, has decided to close 48 underperforming locations in California as of May 31, while keeping open 86 stores in California, Arizona, and Nevada,” the spokesperson said. “The closings were brought about by the rising cost of doing business in California. While painful, the store closures are a necessary step in our strategic long-term plan to position Rubio’s for success for years to come.”
Not all businesses have felt the impact of the new law equally. An exemption in the law allows a business to avoid paying employees according to the wage hike as long as it “operates a bakery that produces for sale on the establishment’s premises bread” as a stand-alone item.
https://thenationaldesk.com/news/americas-news-now/mexican-food-chain-closing-48-calif-locations-due-to-rising-cost-of-business-in-state-rubios-coastal-grill-governor-gavin-newsom-fast-food-restaurant-inflation-dining#