East Alabama Examiner

11/07/2024

https://www.eaexaminer.com/post/reuters-report-us-judge-says-blue-cross-must-face-alabama-health-providers-price-fixing-claims

11/07/2024

11/07/2024

By John BriceCorrespondent Unwelcome news for residents of Chambers County was delivered in a public statement from East Alabama Health Care which announced that inpatient medical services would no…

08/07/2024

https://www.eaexaminer.com/post/unmasking-the-hidden-middleman-in-pharmacy-benefits-managers

Click link above

Originally appeared on the MinnPost news websiteIn 2023, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., made headlines by confronting Ticketmaster over its anti-consumer practices. Following her example, the U.S. Justice Department announced last month that it was initiating antitrust action against the live ent...

08/07/2024

“Be sure your sins will find you out”! I was talking about Interlocking Directorates and someone told me that no one else will serve on those Boards, so what if a few noble directors reluctantly fill those positions and take a little for their trouble, everybody wins, don’t they?

The consumer never wins under monopoly. You would miss the point if you didn't see that having the same people on the most powerful corporations, the same people on the Metropolitan Planning Organizations and those same people holding the office of Commissioner, Revenue Commissioner, Judge, County Engineer, Sheriff, etc., ends in concentration of power and tyranny. It creates a class of Robber Barons like Rockefeller, Carnegie and Morgan who notoriously engaged in unethical business practices, formed Trusts and exploited workers—all to the detriment of customer, competitor and worker alike.

Originally appeared on the Lee County Bulletin website“Be sure your sins will find you out”! I was talking about Interlocking Directorates and someone told me that no one else will serve on those Boards, so what if a few noble directors reluctantly fill those positions and take a little for thei...

08/07/2024

Readers say these posts are dry and could be better informed. No one else would write about the “Travesty on Pepperell Parkway” and I was volunteered. So I am capable of taking some direction. Okay, so EAMC’s Rap Sheet was worse than I thought, fortunately several readers have contributed to our understanding of EAMC Billing Office practices; others confirmed the reality of the Interlocking Directorates of: EAMC, BCBSAL, Alabama Certificate of Need (CON) Board, Auburn University Board of Trustees, Auburn Bank, so I missed a few. We’ll share information as we re-introduce old and some new members of the EAMC All-star Roster.

Originally appeared on the Lee County Bulletin websiteReaders say these posts are dry and could be better informed. No one else would write about the “Travesty on Pepperell Parkway” and I was volunteered. So I am capable of taking some direction. Okay, so EAMC’s Rap Sheet was worse than I thou...

08/07/2024

If so, perhaps it's time to disown it, time to stop the Special Hospital Tax that enables Bond Issues into perpetuity, the millions of dollars worth of subsidies in the form of Lee County Jail Prisoners' health, Ambulance Service, Emergency Room, etc.

Previous articles have raised the issue of the ownership of EAMC. If the County owns EAMC, then the County has the authority and duty to hold the EAHCA Board and the EAMC President accountable for the fraud, the greed, the poor quality of care received at the hospital during their tenure.

Originally appeared on the Lee County Bulletin websiteIf so, perhaps it's time to disown it, time to stop the Special Hospital Tax that enables Bond Issues into perpetuity, the millions of dollars worth of subsidies in the form of Lee County Jail Prisoners' health, Ambulance Service, Emergency Room,...

08/07/2024

The recent exposure of EAMC greed and fraud has struck a chord with past and present Hosts of the EAMC Parasite. Many have emailed complaining that EAMC treated them like a slab of meat, but surprisingly, many of those who have contacted the Bulletin are former or current EAMC employees encouraging us, saying we've uncovered only the tip of the iceberg, keep it up. Word is the morale among the EAMC workforce is very bad. They say Covid 19 is used as an excuse to treat employees poorly; management is insensitive to the workload and employees are simply overworked and understaffed. I spoke to a nurse who moved here from Iowa to take a job at EAMC, but after two months, decided to find a job at a physician’s office due to poor working conditions at the hospital. She was shocked that nurses were instructed to use patients' insurance like credit cards. When prepping for procedures, she would rightfully pick every conceivable supply that could be needed, but if the hospital didn’t use all the supply items, whether re-stocked or not, the cost was placed on the patient’s bill.

Originally appeared on the Lee County Bulletin websiteThe recent exposure of EAMC greed and fraud has struck a chord with past and present Hosts of the EAMC Parasite. Many have emailed complaining that EAMC treated them like a slab of meat, but surprisingly, many of those who have contacted the Bull...

08/07/2024

"Defendant Aperian Laboratory Solutions, LLC (“Aperian”) is a corporation with its principal office in Opelika, Alabama at 121 N. 20th Street, Suite 17 Opelika, AL 36801. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The East Alabama Health Care Authority d/b/a East Alabama Medical Center. Aperian provides both forensic lab services (through drug screens for industrial employees) and clinical laboratory services (through testing for pain management and family practice clinics to determine the presence of pain management drugs in their patients’ bodies). Aperian has its own provider numbers and submitted, and continues to submit, claims for laboratory services to Federal payors, Medicare, Medicaid, TriCare and CHAMPUS. Defendant East Alabama Health Care Authority, d/b/a East Alabama Medical Center is located at 2000 Pepperell Parkway, Opelika, AL, 36801. Defendant EAHCA is owned by Lee County and holds itself out as a not for profit institution. It is the parent company of wholly-owned subsidiary Aperian. The officers for Aperian and EAHCA are the same people."

Originally appeared on the Lee County Bulletin websiteFite v. Aperian Laboratory Solutions LLC (5:13-cv-01626)District Court, N.D. Alabama Last Updated: Nov. 6, 2021, 11:06 a.m. CDTAssigned To: L. Scott CooglerDate Filed: Aug. 30, 2013Date Terminated: Sept. 26, 2018Date of Last Known Filing: Sept. 2...

08/07/2024

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." (Sir Walter Scott)

EAMC is no longer in the practice stage of deceit, with the advent of folks like Terry Andrus and Dr. Joel Pittard, deception has advanced to an Art. Under their leadership as Chairmen of the Board, the standard of care (judging by anecdotal evidence and law suits), has become appalling.

Originally appeared on the Lee County Bulletin website "Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." (Sir Walter Scott)EAMC is no longer in the practice stage of deceit, with the advent of folks like Terry Andrus and Dr. Joel Pittard, deception has advanced to an Art. Under t...

08/07/2024

During the County Commission meeting Monday evening, EAMC CFO Sam Price and Vice President Nichols claimed that the hospital had lost $36 M due to the pandemic, then asked the County for up to $13.5 M to “fill the hole”. When Commissioner LaGrand asked Mr. Price how EAMC calculated its $36 M loss, Price painfully stammered, obfuscated and dissembled until Robert Ham came to his rescue by changing the subject to how wonderful his treatment was while he was in the hospital. [See the attached video.] Great! Now the taxpayer neither knows the specifics of how and where the $36 M was lost, nor who Robert Ham really represents. But wait, it sometimes appears he may also work for Creekwood Resources Quarry.

Originally appeared on the Lee County Bulletin websiteDuring the County Commission meeting Monday evening, EAMC CFO Sam Price and Vice President Nichols claimed that the hospital had lost $36 M due to the pandemic, then asked the County for up to $13.5 M to “fill the hole”. When Commissioner LaG...

08/07/2024

This letter was sent to our editors at [email protected]. The writer [PeterByrd] has exposed this information to the local media and Lee County Commission many times and hopes Leecountybulletin.com will be able to cast some light on this ongoing issue affecting all of Lee County. The Lee County Commission seem to be aiding and abetting this abuse.

Letter contents;

"For years I have attended these County Commission meetings, tracked the issues and trusted that each Commissioner’s vote would align with moral and legislative law. My friend, Lance Farrar, used to attend, but he was arrested and banned for two years after the most corrupt Commissioner perjured himself at his hearing in Judge Bush’s Court. His crime was to chastise the Commission and the Revenue Commissioner to hang their heads in shame for hiring security and then jokingly lamenting her inability to hire dogs as well, to enforce the Covid mask and distancing mandate.

https://www.eaexaminer.com/post/eamc-makes-money-the-old-fashioned-way-political-theft

Originally appeared on the Lee County Bulletin WebsiteThis letter was sent to our editors at [email protected]. The writer [PeterByrd] has exposed this information to the local media and Lee County Commission many times and hopes Leecountybulletin.com will be able to cast some light on this...

20/06/2024

Last month the 2024 Alabama legislative session came to a close without HB 238 also known as the FAIR Meds Act making it to the House floor for a vote despite it having been passed unanimously by the House Insurance Committee on March 6th. Heavy pressure from lobbyists representing the powerful downtown Birmingham syndicate which includes big mules such as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, Alabama Power, Regions Bank as well as the Business Council of Alabama and the Association of County Commissions of Alabama resulted in the legislation stalling out without being voted on. Working under the front group known as the Alliance of Alabama Healthcare Consumers, their main line of attack which was aided and abetted by the bought off local media was to push a false narrative which purported to describe what they referred to as a "$10.64 pharmacy tax" for every prescription filled with private insurance that they claimed would be created by HB 238 being passed.

Last month the 2024 Alabama legislative session came to a close without HB 238 also known as the FAIR Meds Act making it to the House floor for a vote despite it having been passed unanimously by the House Insurance Committee on March 6th. Heavy pressure from lobbyists representing the powerful down...

20/06/2024

"Today, Biden issued an EO to offer mass amnesty to illegal immigrants currently residing in our country. Couple this with his previous voter registration EO and it is clear that Biden is attempting to win the upcoming election, not by winning over legitimate American voters, but by attempting to legitimize illegal immigrants. He won’t stop with this EO. He will keep attempting to dilute the power of the vote of legal Americans. Biden and his administration are radical and lawless."

"Today, Biden issued an EO to offer mass amnesty to illegal immigrants currently residing in our country. Couple this with his previous voter registration EO and it is clear that Biden is attempting to win the upcoming election, not by winning over legitimate American voters, but by attempting to le...

20/06/2024

Originally appeared on 1819news.com June 16th, 2024

In 2022, President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), promising it would lower Medicare costs for seniors. But for Alabama's seniors, the reality has been far different. A new report reveals Medicare Part D premiums have skyrocketed 21% this year, with even higher prices expected next year. Instead of being the promised solution, the IRA is dismantling the Part D drug benefit and burdening Alabama's seniors with unaffordable costs.

https://www.eaexaminer.com/post/john-rice-broken-promises-and-the-inflation-reduction-act-s-impact-on-alabama-s-seniors

Originally appeared on 1819news.com June 16th, 2024In 2022, President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), promising it would lower Medicare costs for seniors. But for Alabama's seniors, the reality has been far different. A new report reveals Medicare Part D premiums have skyrocketed...

10/06/2024

Originally Appeared in the LaFayette Sun on May 22nd, 2024

Earlier this month the 2024 Alabama legislative session came to a close without HB 238 also known as the FAIR Meds Act making it to the House floor for a vote despite it having been passed unanimously by the House Insurance Committee on March 6th. Heavy pressure from lobbyists representing powerful downtown Birmingham based corporate special interests such as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, Alabama Power, Regions Bank as well as the Business Council of Alabama and the Association of County Commissions of Alabama resulted in the legislation stalling out without being voted on. Instead, a legislative study group has been formed which includes pharmacies, insurers, PBMs and drug manufacturers who will continue to discuss the complex matter and consider possible legislation going forward while the legislature is out of session.

Originally Appeared in the LaFayette Sun on May 22nd, 2024Earlier this month the 2024 Alabama legislative session came to a close without HB 238 also known as the FAIR Meds Act making it to the House floor for a vote despite it having been passed unanimously by the House Insurance Committee on March...

01/06/2024

Disgraced former Alabama Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard is well known for his sordid legacy defined by the corrupt thievery he engaged in which led to multiple felony criminal convictions on ethics law violations and a shameful prison sentence. What is not quite as well known is Hubbard's checkered past involving casino expansion in Alabama which ties in to the Republican party takeover of the state house in 2010 and blood money from the Poarch Band of Creek Indians that made it all possible. Hubbard was at the center of these critical points in Alabama's recent political history, yet the crimes that he was convicted for were merely the tip of the iceberg when examining what all he got away with scot free.

Disgraced former Alabama Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard is well known for his sordid legacy defined by the corrupt thievery he engaged in which led to multiple felony criminal convictions on ethics law violations and a shameful prison sentence. What is not quite as well known is Hubbard's checker...

11/05/2024

Wes Allen, Alabama’s Secretary of State, applauds the final passage of HB 230, a bill to reduce government red tape for Alabama small businesses.

“As Secretary of State, I will always support the hardworking men and women of Alabama as they pursue the American Dream,” said Secretary Allen. “I am proud to have supported legislation that cuts government red tape and removes an unnecessary burden from the shoulders of Alabama small business owners.”

Press ReleaseWes Allen, Alabama’s Secretary of State, applauds the final passage of HB 230, a bill to reduce government red tape for Alabama small businesses.“As Secretary of State, I will always support the hardworking men and women of Alabama as they pursue the American Dream,” said Secretar...

10/05/2024

Liberal tears flowed and teeth were gnashed by the legion of sore losers forming the pro-gambling faction at the State Capitol building in Montgomery as this year's legislative session came to a merciful close without the passage of a gambling expansion bill on Thursday, May 9th of 2024. State Senator for District 27 Jay Hovey was on the losing liberal side of this epic political battle royale, forever removing any doubt over whether he is the sort of weak-kneed fake Republican who would cross party lines to vote with Democrats in furthering their big government agenda. During his 2022 campaign for state senate, the central accusations leveled against then candidate Hovey were in regards to his liberal political inclinations which was a perception based upon his questionable voting record while he was in office as a City of Auburn councilman. Hovey vehemently denied being a liberal at that time, engaging in a slew of social media tirades breathlessly invoking a buffet of boilerplate platitudes with the professed intention of shoring up his vaguely established "conservative" credentials.

Liberal tears flowed and teeth were gnashed by the legion of sore losers forming the pro-gambling faction at the State Capitol building in Montgomery as this year's legislative session came to a merciful close without the passage of a gambling expansion bill on Thursday, May 9th of 2024. State Senat...

07/05/2024

Russell County's East Alabama Republican Club met at T-Bones Steakhouse & Grill in Phenix City on Thursday, May 2nd of 2024. This month's meeting featured local candidates for office in Russell County as guest speakers which included Kristi Mott who is running for the Russell County Probate Judge position against Democrat Belinda Strickland. Also speaking was Bob Franklin who is running for the office of Russell County Commissioner, District 5 against Democrat Cedric Darrell Darty.

Russell County's East Alabama Republican Club met at T-Bones Steakhouse & Grill in Phenix City on Thursday, May 2nd of 2024. This month's meeting featured local candidates for office in Russell County as guest speakers which included Kristi Mott who is running for the Russell County Probate Judge po...

02/05/2024

Gambling expansion in Alabama has cast an especially dark cloud over this year's legislative session from the outset with the widespread expectation that the Poarch Band of Creek Indians would influence as many representatives and senators as necessary to finally hit pay dirt and broaden their empire of casino depravity this year. Caught up in the sordid web of PCI corruption are two crucial members of the Lee County delegation, state Senator Randy Price for District 13 and state Senator Jay Hovey for District 27. After a series of stops and starts over the past few months for the gambling expansion legislation during this year's session, the high stakes drama reached a shocking crescendo during the late evening hours of Tuesday, April 30th with Senate Roll Call Vote 891 on the Gambling Conference Committee proposal vote.

Gambling expansion in Alabama has cast an especially dark cloud over this year's legislative session from the outset with the widespread expectation that the Poarch Band of Creek Indians would influence as many representatives and senators as necessary to finally hit pay dirt and broaden their empir...

28/04/2024

Alabama State Senator for District 10 Andrew Jones has been busy leading a relentless assault to shut down the Indian Mountain ATV Park, mercilessly leveraging his extensive connections in state and local government as well as mainstream media to destroy this small business in rural Cherokee County that falls within his district. Significant pushback has formed amongst legislators in Montgomery and citizens across Alabama against Senator Andy's misguided legislation which may have caught him flat footed and prompted his doubling down on the ruinous attempt at government overreach.

Alabama State Senator for District 10 Andrew Jones has been busy leading a relentless assault to shut down the Indian Mountain ATV Park, mercilessly leveraging his extensive connections in state and local government as well as mainstream media to destroy this small business in rural Cherokee County....

14/04/2024

Wes Allen, Alabama’s Secretary of State, notified the Alabama Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee via letter that they must provide a certification of nomination for President and Vice President of the United States no later than August 15, 2024, to appear on Alabama’s general election ballot.

“It has recently come to my attention that the Democratic National Convention is currently scheduled to convene on August 19, 2024, which is after the State of Alabama’s statutory deadline for political parties to provide a certificate of nomination for President and Vice President,” Allen wrote in a letter to Randy Kelley, Chair of the Alabama Democratic Party. “If this Office has not received a valid certificate of nomination from the Democratic Party following its convention by the statutory deadline, I will be unable to certify the names of the Democratic Party’s candidates for President and Vice President for ballot preparation for the 2024 general election.”

Press ReleaseWes Allen, Alabama’s Secretary of State, notified the Alabama Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee via letter that they must provide a certification of nomination for President and Vice President of the United States no later than August 15, 2024, to appear on Alabam...

12/04/2024

In a baffling act of big government overreach, Alabama State Senator for District 10 Andrew Jones has proposed local legislation for Cherokee County which is intended to destroy the Indian Mountain ATV Park in Piedmont through burdensome regulation. Jones had originally introduced SB254 on March 21st of 2024 which would have decimated ATV parks across the entire state. Senate colleagues rebuffed the wrongheaded anti-business legislation proposed by Jones in which he advocated for ATV control much in the same way that a big city liberal would push for gun control in the wake of a dubiously sensationalized "mass shooting".

In a baffling act of big government overreach, Alabama State Senator for District 10 Andrew Jones has proposed local legislation for Cherokee County which is intended to destroy the Indian Mountain ATV Park in Piedmont through burdensome regulation. Jones had originally introduced SB254 on March 21s...

02/04/2024

Alabama Representative Phillip Rigsby for District 25 in Huntsville, a pharmacist by trade himself, recently introduced HB 238 also known as the FAIR Meds Act which was passed unanimously by the House Insurance Committee on March 6th of 2024 and is slated to be voted upon by the entire legislature. Pharmacists Brent Fuller and Russell Moore at Lowe’s Pharmacy in LaFayette have thrown their full support behind HB 238 and recently shared their viewpoint on the complex situation during an interview with The LaFayette Sun. It is of paramount importance for Brent and Russell that the entire community understands that they urge everyone to call their representative and ask them to support HB238.

Originally appeared in The LaFayette SunAlabama Representative Phillip Rigsby for District 25 in Huntsville, a pharmacist by trade himself, recently introduced HB 238 also known as the FAIR Meds Act which was passed unanimously by the House Insurance Committee on March 6th of 2024 and is slated to b...

28/03/2024

In a March 25th, 2024 press release Secretary of State Wes Allen warned citizens of a diabolical scheme by shadowy DC Democrat organizations to sway Alabama elections in favor of their preferred candidates through a "misleading, unsolicited mass mailing of pre-filled voter registration forms". Two identical groups that are mirror images of each other yet mysteriously operate under different names, known as the Voter Participation Center and the Center for Voter Information, have "communicated their intent to send at least two mass mailings of pre-filled voter registration forms to Alabama citizens, beginning as early as this month." President and CEO of both the VPC and CVI, Tom Lopach, immediately pushed back against Secretary Allen's warnings by claiming that his organizations are strictly "non-partisan".

In a March 25th, 2024 press release Secretary of State Wes Allen warned citizens of a diabolical scheme by shadowy DC Democrat organizations to sway Alabama elections in favor of their preferred candidates through a "misleading, unsolicited mass mailing of pre-filled voter registration forms". Two i...

27/03/2024

Settling in amidst the aftermath of a momentous Super Tuesday primary election at the beginning of March, with the dust having finally settled in the last week of the month, voters in Chambers and Lee County are experiencing somewhat of a political hangover as they try to make heads or tails of what exactly just happened to the balance of power in their respective local governments. It was the best of times, it was the worst times, electorally speaking in the neighboring counties depending on which side of the fence that you sit on. For the big government corporate shills who fancy themselves to be public officials in Lee County, the election day results of the March 5th primary were an affirmation of their absolute stranglehold on power in county government and the media narrative that parrots their twisted talking points.

Settling in amidst the aftermath of a momentous Super Tuesday primary election at the beginning of March, with the dust having finally settled in the last week of the month, voters in Chambers and Lee County are experiencing somewhat of a political hangover as they try to make heads or tails of what...

27/03/2024

Have you filed your theft receipt yet cough I mean tax documents? April 15th brings about both the United States and the State of Alabama tax filing deadline. Many people actually look forward to this time of year because of the wonderful Tax Return! After all, who doesn’t like to see $3,167 of federal dollars hitting your bank account?

Commentary by Micah MesserHave you filed your theft receipt yet cough I mean tax documents? April 15th brings about both the United States and the State of Alabama tax filing deadline. Many people actually look forward to this time of year because of the wonderful Tax Return! After all, who doesn’...

26/03/2024

Secretary of State Wes Allen is warning Alabama citizens of a misleading, unsolicited mass mailing of pre-filled voter registration forms targeting Alabama mailboxes. The mailer is not affiliated with the State of Alabama and has, in fact, been officially discouraged by the Office of the Secretary of State.

The Voter Participation Center and Center for Voter Information, the two groups operating the mass mailing, appear to be run by the same organization. They have communicated their intent to send at least two mass mailings of pre-filled voter registration forms to Alabama citizens, beginning as early as this month. The Secretary of State has submitted written objections to their efforts, due to the confusion they will create.

Press ReleaseSecretary of State Wes Allen is warning Alabama citizens of a misleading, unsolicited mass mailing of pre-filled voter registration forms targeting Alabama mailboxes. The mailer is not affiliated with the State of Alabama and has, in fact, been officially discouraged by the Office of th...