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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Pediatric Dentist, Affiliates In NJ, NY Pay $750,000 For Unneeded Root Canals On Kids Pediatric Dentist, Affiliates In NJ, NY Pay $750,000 For Unneeded Root Canals On Kids
Pediatric Dentist, Affiliates In NJ, NY Pay $750,000 For Unneeded Root Canals On Kids A group of pediatric dentists in New Jersey and New York who were outed by a former worker for conducting medically unnecessary root canals on children agreed to pay more than $750,000 to settle charges against them, authorities in both states announced. Formerly known as HQRC Management Services LLC, the targeted practice was run by dentist Barry L. Jacobson, most recently of Alpine, NJ, they said. It included offices in Teaneck, Wyckoff, and Paterson in New Jersey and in the Bronx, Flushing, Valley Stream, Boro Park, Kingston, Monsey, Albany and Malone in New York. Jacobson and fellow de…
Gaithersburg Company Produces Nation's First Authorized Protein-Based COVID Vaccine Gaithersburg Company Produces Nation's First Authorized Protein-Based COVID Vaccine
Gaithersburg Company Produces Nation's First Authorized Protein-Based COVID Vaccine Novavax, a Gaithersburg-based company in Montgomery County, has received emergency use authorization from the FDA to distribute the first protein-based COVID-19 vaccination in the United States, officials say. The US Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Defense together announced a purchase of 3.2 million doses of the new vaccine, according to Montgomery County officials. The vaccine will be available free to states, jurisdictions, federal pharmacy partners, and federally qualified health centers. The protein-based vaccine is already widely used in other countries…
Dementia Patients Were Sexually Abused At PA Nursing Home And 2 Workers Failed To Act: AG Dementia Patients Were Sexually Abused At PA Nursing Home And 2 Workers Failed To Act: AG
Dementia Patients Were Sexually Abused At PA Nursing Home And 2 Workers Failed To Act: AG A pair of nursing home employees were arrested on accusations they failed to report a male resident who sexually assaulted three female dementia patients in a suburban Philadelphia facility, authorities said. The Landing of Southampton General Manager Ashley Harker and Director of Health and Wellness Joy Alfonsi were notified of the incidents in the facility's memory care unit by staff members on July 22, 24, and 26, PA Attorney General Josh Shapiro said. Alfonsi and Harker assured the staff that they would handle the situation and told the witnesses not to document or report the incidents …
Philadelphia Nurse Admits Failing To Provide Care That Could've Saved Patient's Life: AG Philadelphia Nurse Admits Failing To Provide Care That Could've Saved Patient's Life: AG
Philadelphia Nurse Admits Failing To Provide Care That Could've Saved Patient's Life: AG A 34-year-old Philadelphia nurse admitted failing to provide checks on a nursing home resident who died hours after suffering a fall and serious head injury, and then trying to hide it, authorities announced. Christann Gainey, 34, pleaded guilty to neglect of a care-dependent person and tampering with records in connection with the death of 84-year-old Herbert R. McMaster Sr., State Attorney General Josh Shapiro said. Gainey failed to administer a total of eight required neurological checks on McMaster, a resident of Cathedral Village, after he suffered an unwitnessed fall at…
Destructive USB Flash Drives Are Being Mailed By Cybercriminals, FBI Warns Destructive USB Flash Drives Are Being Mailed By Cybercriminals, FBI Warns
Destructive USB Flash Drives Are Being Mailed By Cybercriminals, FBI Warns The FBI is warning that USB thumb drives are being mailed by cybercriminals in an attempt to lure recipients into plugging them into their computers and installing ransomware. Two different schemes are being used, says the FBI: The first contains a package that appears to come from the US Department of Health and Human Services that reportedly contains information on current pandemic guidelines.  The second comes as an Amazon gift box which contains a thank you letter, USB, and counterfeit gift card. Both packages contain USBs that when connected to a computer will send prec…
COVID-19: NY Nurse, Marine Corps Reservist, Indicted For Vaccination Card Fraud Scheme COVID-19: NY Nurse, Marine Corps Reservist, Indicted For Vaccination Card Fraud Scheme
Covid-19: NY Nurse, Marine Corps Reservist, Indicted For Vaccination Card Fraud Scheme A Long Island nurse and member of the US Marine Corps have been indicted for their roles in an alleged COVID-19 vaccination card fraud scheme, federal authorities announced. An indictment was unsealed on Thursday, Feb. 17 charging Queens resident Jia Liu, age 26, a member of the US Marine Corps Reserve, and Nassau County resident Steven Rodriguez, age 27, of Long Beach, a nurse at a clinic in Hempstead, for their roles in the scheme. US Attorney Breon Peace said that between March 2021 and February 2022, the two allegedly conspired to steal and forge COVID-19 vaccination cards to falsely re…
Cyber-Casanova From NJ Admits Duping Dozens Of Lonely Hearts Out Of $1.14M Cyber-Casanova From NJ Admits Duping Dozens Of Lonely Hearts Out Of $1.14M
Cyber-Casanova From NJ Admits Duping Dozens Of Lonely Hearts Out Of $1.14M A New Jersey man admitted that he orchestrated an online scam that conned dozens of unsuspecting women on dating sites out of more than a million dollars – and led one of them to suicide. Rubbin Sarpong, 37, of Millville pocketed the money and bought property in Ghana, along with luxury cars, expensive jewelry, top-shelf booze, designer clothes and more, federal authorities said. Then he flaunted it on Instagram. Sarpong had catfishing accomplices, several of whom live in Ghana, Acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Rachael Honig said. Posing as American military personnel stationed oversea…
Tampa Bay Bucs WR Antonio Brown Accused Of Using Fake Vax Cards Tampa Bay Bucs WR Antonio Brown Accused Of Using Fake Vax Cards
Tampa Bay Bucs WR Antonio Brown Accused Of Using Fake Vax Cards Whether Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown will play against the Giants on Monday night has become a bigger question than before. The Tampa Bay Tribune reported Thursday that Brown is accused of obtaining a phony COVID-19 vaccination card so he could avoid NFL requirements. The report sources Brown's personal chef, Steven Ruiz, with whom the 33-year-old Pro Bowl receiver allegedly had a falling out over an uncollected debt. Ruiz said Brown showed him bogus vaccination cards that he'd gotten for himself and his girlfriend before the beginning of the Super Bowl champions' train…
New Reports Surface Of Underage Migrants Being Flown Into Westchester County Airport New Reports Surface Of Underage Migrants Being Flown Into Westchester County Airport
New Reports Surface Of Underage Migrants Being Flown Into Westchester County Airport Hundreds of more migrants have reportedly been flown into New York airports as part of President Joe Biden’s administration’s efforts to resettle them across the East Coast. Over the summer, former County Executive and potential gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino first broke the news that undocumented immigrants were being flown in “secret flights” into the Westchester County Airport. Original story - Undocumented Immigrants Flown Into Westchester County Airport On Private Flights, Reports Say In more recent weeks, planeloads of immigrants have been flown into New York airports, with f…
Former PA Health Sec. Dr. Rachel Levine Becomes First Openly Transgender 4-Star Admiral Former PA Health Sec. Dr. Rachel Levine Becomes First Openly Transgender 4-Star Admiral
Former PA Health Sec. Dr. Rachel Levine Becomes First Openly Transgender 4-Star Admiral Dr. Rachel Levine was ceremonially sworn-in as a four-star admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. on Tuesday. This new status makes Levine the first openly transgender four-star officer across any of the uniformed services of the United States.  Admiral Rachel Levine.US Department of Health and Human Services Levine formerly served as the Pennsylvania health secretary under Gov. Tom Wolf from 2017 until she started her new role in President Joe Biden's administration in 2021. When Levine became the U.S. Assistant Secretary for Health she became the top ranking of…
Undocumented Immigrants Flown Into Westchester County Airport On Private Flights, Reports Say Undocumented Immigrants Flown Into Westchester County Airport On Private Flights, Reports Say
Undocumented Immigrants Flown Into Westchester County Airport On Private Flights, Reports Say Social media was abuzz over the weekend as photos and rumors about undocumented immigrants being flown into Westchester County Airport circulated online. Led by former County Executive and gubernatorial hopeful Rob Astorino, who first broke the news on Friday, Aug. 13, word of undocumented immigrants being flown into the region spread like wildfire with speculation racing. “Hundreds of undocumented immigrants from (the) crisis at (the) border flown in on several nights,” Astorino tweeted. “Why was this a secret? Where are they being resettled? Who is paying? Have they been tested for COVID…
COVID-19: Westchester County Executive Warns Of Uninsured Being Charged For Vaccinations COVID-19: Westchester County Executive Warns Of Uninsured Being Charged For Vaccinations
Covid-19: Westchester County Executive Warns Of Uninsured Being Charged For Vaccinations Some Westchester residents who lack health insurance have been illegally charged for the COVID-19 vaccine, County Executive George Latimer is cautioning. During his bi-weekly COVID-19 briefing on Monday, April 5, Latimer said that his office has received multiple reports of uninsured residents being charged $20 by some providers to administer the vaccine. Latimer noted that there “should be no out-of-pocket cost to any individual for the COVID-19 vaccine, which is to be provided to all eligible parties for free, as per the guidance from the federal and state governments." According to Lati…
IT'S OFFICIAL: Dr. Rachel Levine Confirmed As U.S. Senate's First Openly Transgender Official IT'S OFFICIAL: Dr. Rachel Levine Confirmed As U.S. Senate's First Openly Transgender Official
IT'S Official: Dr. Rachel Levine Confirmed As U.S. Senate's First Openly Transgender Official The former Pennsylvania Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine was confirmed Wednesday as the US Assistant Health Secretary --  making her the first openly transgender federal official confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Wednesday's 52-48 vote broke down along partly line with only two exceptions, Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine. Pa. Senator Republican Pat Toomey did not vote to confirm Dr. Levine. Toomey says, "Levine Has Not Earned a Promotion to Help Lead HHS” “In Pennsylvania, the pandemic struck seniors in nursing homes disproportionately h…
COVID-19: NJ Drug Manufacturer Merck Says New Antiviral Drug Shows Quick Reduction In Virus COVID-19: NJ Drug Manufacturer Merck Says New Antiviral Drug Shows Quick Reduction In Virus
Covid-19: NJ Drug Manufacturer Merck Says New Antiviral Drug Shows Quick Reduction In Virus Experimental antiviral drug molnupiravir being developed by New Jersey drug manufacturer Merck with Ridgeback Bio shows a quick reduction of the infectious virus in a study among participants with early COVID-19. Molnupiravir is being tested in a Phase 2/3 trial set to be completed in May. Merck will be provided with up to  $268.8 million in funding from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine William Fis…
COVID-19: FEMA Mass-Vaccination Site To Open In Westchester COVID-19: FEMA Mass-Vaccination Site To Open In Westchester
Covid-19: FEMA Mass-Vaccination Site To Open In Westchester A mass-vaccination site will open in Southern Westchester as more vaccine supplies have become available. Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday, Feb. 3, that the site will open at the New York National Guard Amory, at 2 Quincy Place, in Yonkers. Cuomo said the new site is part of the state's effort ongoing efforts to fight vaccine hesitancy and bring the vaccine to communities underserved by traditional health care institutions.  Eligible New Yorkers are able to schedule appointments by utilizing the 'Am I Eligible' website or by calling the state's COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline…
Women Accused Of Running $100 Million Health Care Scam Using Poor, Disabled People Women Accused Of Running $100 Million Health Care Scam Using Poor, Disabled People
Women Accused Of Running $100 Million Health Care Scam Using Poor, Disabled People Two Massachusetts women were arrested on Sunday, Jan. 31, in connection to a $100 million home health care fraud. The government is seeking to recoup funds as well as five properties allegedly bought with stolen funds. On Monday, Feb. 1, Faith Newton, 52, of Westford, and Winnie Waruru, 41, of Lowell, were each indicted on counts of conspiracy to commit health care fraud; health care fraud - aiding and abetting; and conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts. Newton was also charged with money laundering conspiracy and seven counts of mo…
FBI Raids Bucks County Lab With COVID-19 Testing FBI Raids Bucks County Lab With COVID-19 Testing
FBI Raids Bucks County Lab With Covid-19 Testing Members of the FBI and other law enforcement agents raided a Bucks County diagnostics lab that offers COVID-19 testing last Thursday. The Genesis Diagnostics lab in Middletown Township was among the first private clinical labs to offer COVID-19 testing in the U.S. A spokesperson for the FBI's Philadelphia field office told LevittownNow only that agents were carrying out a court-authorized activity. No further information was released. Shipping packages were seen stacked outside of the Town Center Drive lab's doorway. Breaking @CBSPhilly / FBI, Office of Inspector General for the U.S. …
COVID-19: Newly Revealed Virus Map Shows Worst Hotspots In Nation COVID-19: Newly Revealed Virus Map Shows Worst Hotspots In Nation
Covid-19: Newly Revealed Virus Map Shows Worst Hotspots In Nation Three states have emerged as national hotspots for the spread of the COVID-19 virus, according to new data. When new COVID-19 incident rates per 100,000 people were compared nationally, Arizona, South Carolina, and California were revealed to be the states with the highest risk for the transmission of COVID-19. This insight was provided by a weekly, state and county-level COVID-19 data report. The data has been regularly produced for President Joe Biden and Donald Trump, which is just now being made available to the public, according to the U.S. Sun. The newly revealed data repor…
Changes Coming To Pennsylvania's COVID-19 Vaccination Plan Changes Coming To Pennsylvania's COVID-19 Vaccination Plan
Changes Coming To Pennsylvania's Covid-19 Vaccination Plan Updates to Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 vaccine plan are on the horizon. Cindy Findley, who helms the state's COVID-19 vaccine task force, is temporarily assuming the role of former PA Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine, who on Tuesday was nominated by President-elect Joe Biden as the Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The new plan outlines expansions in the current Phase 1A which will now allow anyone over 65 and people ages 16-64 with serious medical conditions that make them more at risk for severe illness, eligible for the va…
PA's Rachel Levine Poised To Become First Openly Transgender Federal Official PA's Rachel Levine Poised To Become First Openly Transgender Federal Official
PA's Rachel Levine Poised To Become First Openly Transgender Federal Official President-elect Joe Biden has chosen Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine as his assistant secretary of health. This makes Levine poised to become the first openly transgender federal official confirmed by the U.S. Senate. "Dr. Levine has been a wise, calm, and dedicated partner during this pandemic and I couldn’t be prouder of the tireless work she’s done to serve Pennsylvanians," Gov. Tom Wolf said. "She will be missed, but I know she will be a tremendous leader at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services." Levine is a pediatrician having previously served as Pen…
Camden County Man Tells Federal Judge He Sold Oxy On Street Camden County Man Tells Federal Judge He Sold Oxy On Street
Camden County Man Tells Federal Judge He Sold Oxy On Street A Camden County man admitted in federal court Tuesday that he and an accomplice slung oxycodone on the city streets, authorities said. Anwar Abdulah, 32, of Pennsauken, said he got the drug several times from Erick Bell, 48, and then resold it, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said. In one instance, Abdullah said, he gave Bell $1,440 to buy 120 Oxy pills that Abdullah said  he then resold."Oxycodone is a Schedule II controlled substance, meaning that it has a high potential for abuse, a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions, and abuse of the drug may lead to severe psych…
COVID-19: ShopRite To Administer Vaccines COVID-19: ShopRite To Administer Vaccines
Covid-19: ShopRite To Administer Vaccines ShopRite has reached a partnership agreement with federal health agencies to begin distributing the COVID-19 vaccine. Wakefern Food Corp.’s announced this week that it has entered a Pharmacy Partnership Vaccination Program with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help administer COVID-19 vaccinations now that more doses have been distributed to states. The pharmacies are reportedly already working with state and local leaders to start the process of vaccinating healthcare and other essential employees during the fir…
New Haven Guidance Counselor Accused Of Rampant Fraud New Haven Guidance Counselor Accused Of Rampant Fraud
New Haven Guidance Counselor Accused Of Rampant Fraud An Avon counselor who worked in the New Haven Public School District allegedly billed Medicaid hundreds of times for services he never provided - and at least some of those charges were made while he was on a cruise to the Bahamas. Cortney Dunlap, 36, of Avon, was arrested on Wednesday, Oct. 14, and charged with health care fraud and making false statements relating to health care matters, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Connecticut. Dunlap, a licensed professional counselor, allegedly used the identities of his clients, students, and employee to file false claims for psychotherapy…
COVID-19: CVS Adds New CT Test Sites, Including Three In Fairfield County COVID-19: CVS Adds New CT Test Sites, Including Three In Fairfield County
Covid-19: CVS Adds New CT Test Sites, Including Three In Fairfield County Of over 2,000 new COVID-19 drive-thru test sites established by CVS, seven will be in Connecticut, and three will open in Fairfield County.  All seven test sites, along with 400 more in 32 other states and in Washington, D.C.,  will open on Friday, Sept. 18, and include locations at   35 Padanaram Road in Danbury 281 Connecticut Avenue in Norwalk 969 High Ridge Road in Stamford 106 Boston Post Road in  Waterford 675 Washington Street in Middletown  111 Albany Turnpike in Canton  110 Main Street in Hebron Tests are free for patients with health insurance, …
Free Drive-Thru COVID-19 Swab Tests Now Offered At Bergen, Rockland Rite-Aids, More Coming Free Drive-Thru COVID-19 Swab Tests Now Offered At Bergen, Rockland Rite-Aids, More Coming
Free Drive-Thru Covid-19 Swab Tests Now Offered At Bergen, Rockland Rite-Aids, More Coming Rite-Aid stores in Bergen and Rockland counties opened coronavirus self-swab testing sites in their parking lots this weekend, with more coming this week in New York and New Jersey. One testing site is at the Rite-Aid store on Franklin Turnpike in Waldwick (Bergen) and the other on Route 303 in Valley Cottage (Rockland). More are being added at stores in both states, including one due to open Monday at the Rite Aid in the Camden County town of Barrington and another at a Jersey Shore Rite Aid in Toms River on Wednesday, the company said. Another Rite-Aid COVID-19 testing site is scheduled …
COVID-19 SCAM ALERT: Here’s How Stimulus Scammers Try To Steal Your Money COVID-19 SCAM ALERT: Here’s How Stimulus Scammers Try To Steal Your Money
Covid-19 Scam ALERT: Here’s How Stimulus Scammers Try To Steal Your Money Fear and uncertainty created by the coronavirus have made victims of people who’ve ended up giving what amounts to blank checks to scammers who claim to be contacting them about stimulus payments. Stimulus payments are automatic for seniors and taxpayers who filed tax returns in 2018 or 2019, state New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said Friday. There are no phone calls, no need to do anything but count the amount when it comes in the mail or is directly deposited sometime this month. If you do get a call, text or email from someone asking for your Social Security, checking accou…
COVID-19: Here's How You Can Protect Your Mental Health During The Pandemic, HHS Says COVID-19: Here's How You Can Protect Your Mental Health During The Pandemic, HHS Says
Covid-19: Here's How You Can Protect Your Mental Health During The Pandemic, HHS Says The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is advising the public to be aware of their mental health, as well as their physical health, while socially distancing during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.” Health officials noted that everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. They advised that one should take breaks f…
Feds: 192,000 Respirator Masks, More Seized From Black Market Dealer Sent To NJ, NY Front Lines Feds: 192,000 Respirator Masks, More Seized From Black Market Dealer Sent To NJ, NY Front Lines
Feds: 192,000 Respirator Masks, More Seized From Black Market Dealer Sent To NJ, NY Front Lines A total of 192,000 N95 respirator masks and other personal protective equipment seized from a black market dealer busted by the FBI is being sent to the front lines of the fight against the coronavirus in New Jersey and New York, federal authorities announced Thursday. The distributed equipment also includes 130,000 surgical masks, procedure masks, N100 masks, surgical gowns, disinfectant towels, particulate filters, bottles of hand sanitizer, and bottles of spray disinfectant, they said. The equipment was seized from Baruch Feldheim, 43, who federal authorities said had enough black market…
Feds: Black Market Dealer Had Enough Supplies To Fill Hospital, Assaulted NJ FBI Agents Feds: Black Market Dealer Had Enough Supplies To Fill Hospital, Assaulted NJ FBI Agents
Feds: Black Market Dealer Had Enough Supplies To Fill Hospital, Assaulted NJ FBI Agents A Brooklyn man caught hoarding enough black market medical supplies to “outfit an entire hospital” deliberately coughed on investigating FBI agents and told them he had the coronavirus, federal authorities said Monday. Baruch Feldheim, 43, violated an executive order issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services last week that makes it illegal to hoard certain scarce health and medical resources, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Craig Carpenito said. These included N95 filtering face-piece respirators, personal protection equipment (PPE), surgical masks, disinfecting devices and ot…
Federal Government Turns To Westchester Company For Coronavirus Treatment Federal Government Turns To Westchester Company For Coronavirus Treatment
Federal Government Turns To Westchester Company For Coronavirus Treatment With coronavirus rapidly spreading throughout the world at an unprecedented rate, the federal government is turning to an area company to help develop a treatment to combat the virus. Tarrytown-based Regeneron Pharmaceuticals reached an expanded agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help combat the virus, which has impacted more than 81,000 people across the globe as of Thursday, Feb. 27. Related story: Are You Likely To Get The Coronavirus? Virus May Join Seasonal Illness Landscape, Experts Say A total of 81,109 cases have been confirmed globally. Of …
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Around The Towns: Coding Camp, Top Judge Honored, Engel Awards Health Center Money Around The Towns: Coding Camp, Top Judge Honored, Engel Awards Health Center Money
Around The Towns: Coding Camp, Top Judge Honored, Engel Awards Health Center Money State Sen. Jamaal T. Bailey, Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow and AT&T New York President Amy Kramer visited the AT&T & NSSA Girls of Color Coding Camp to speak to 30 young participants on the importance of girls engaging in a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and career path.  The two-week program, held at the Benjamin Turner Middle School, is Mount Vernon’s only middle school coding program exclusively for young girls of color.  Sen. Bailey, Assemblyman Pretlow and Kramer toured the program where students and teachers demonstrated what the young w…