John LeBlanc of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips recently discussed healthcare fraud and some of the latest trends in this area. He said that the loss associated with healthcare fraud could be as high as $80 billion.

“Part of what we’re trying to do is identify areas where it’s growing so that people can take action to prevent it.”

LeBlanc said he believed the problem was growing, not only concerning fraud but also waste. “A lot of these are very high-dollar cases,” he noted. However, he added that the area of pharmaceutical fraud is one where there have been some sizable recoveries lately. He reiterated that one of the big problems is that it can be challenging to identify where fraud and waste are occurring.

LeBlanc said there are several areas the government is focusing on: improper relationships between physicians and pharmaceutical companies, services not provided or ordered, and drug pricing. He noted that Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement levels for those types of things had been reduced.

“We’re starting to see more of these types of cases because the government has just said, ‘Enough is enough,'” LeBlanc explained. For example, he said that companies are now being told that their employees need to follow proper procedures if they want to contract with the federal government. Another area of focus is on increasing the government’s knowledge of what is going on.

“Remember, the government has limited resources,” LeBlanc said. “It can only be in so many places at one time.” He noted some areas where compliance efforts had been weaker, which was a focus of the federal healthcare oversight agencies, including the Office of Inspector General.

“The government is looking at the types of contracting rules that it has not looked at in the past,” LeBlanc added. For example, he said there are now more requirements for compliance programs within companies to deal with potential fraud and waste.

LeBlanc noted that health care entities could do some things internally to help prevent fraud and waste. For example, companies should establish and implement good compliance programs and train their employees. Fraud and waste can only be prevented by establishing a robust internal compliance program, LeBlanc said.

“Companies need to conduct audits of their operations to see what is going on,” he added. “They don’t want to wait until there is a problem.”

In terms of recovering funds, LeBlanc described what could happen when a case is settled. “Once a settlement occurs, the government will set up a fund and look to recover that money,” he said. For example, the US Department of Justice takes cases involving billions of dollars to the US Treasury’s Judgment Fund, which then directs monies from the Judgment Fund to pay for the settlement.

“What we find is that the DOJ and the US Attorney’s Offices typically work pretty closely with us,” LeBlanc said. He explained that they typically provide information on cases, including internal data and information from whistleblowers. “They don’t give us everything, but they give as much as they can,” he said.

 

Everyone deals with stress at some time or another. Stress can enter your life for a variety of reasons. The most common reasons for stress include financial problems, relationship issues and work woes. The good news is that there’s something you can do about the stress you are experiencing right now. You can try one or several of the following six top activities to reduce your level of stress:

1. Meditation

Meditation is perhaps one of the most stress-relieving activities you can do. The best part about it is that it doesn’t cost anything to get started. You can choose any location to meditate. You can go to a quiet room in your home, or you can go outside and find a nice place in the sun. You’ll get the benefit of soaking up some vitamin D while you’re at it.

2. Exercise

Exercise can help you reduce stress, as well. It is proven that exercise reduces stress because of the chemical changes in the brain that occur when someone is engaged in exercise. Your body will release serotonin and endorphins once you get through about 20 minutes of your favorite exercise. Those brain chemicals will make you feel happy and invincible while you’re exercising.

Afterward, they’ll have a calming effect on your body. A little exercise session might be just what you need to get back on track and eliminate the stress in your life. You won’t need much to succeed.

3. Camping

Camping can help you to alleviate your stress, as well. You may want to consider taking a camping trip if you haven’t yet thought about it. Sometimes all you need is a temporary change in your environment to calm yourself and take your mind off the woes of life.

There are many areas around the U.S that offer once-in-a-lifetime views and experiences for all. For example, if you are heading up East, you can check out camping in Maine state parks for an unforgettable time with mother nature. A camping trip will give you the opportunity to free your mind of all baggage and then refresh yourself so that you can return to work and your other obligations and responsibilities. Consider taking a stress-busting trip at a campsite if it’s in your budget to do so.

4. Gaming

Gaming could be an amazing way to release some of your stress. It could be perfect for you if you’re into playing video games. Video games are great at occupying the mind and steering the thoughts away from upsetting subjects. You can choose from a variety of game types if you want to clear your mind. Boxing games and car racing games are excellent for relieving stress.

You could also involve yourself in an interactive story game that will make you feel like you’re a part of a certain story. Do that for a half-hour or so, and you will see that it can do wonders for your stress levels.

5. Movie Watching

Watching movies is using the same concept as playing video games. The idea is to focus your mind on something other than disturbing thoughts. A two-hour-long movie will give you just enough time to rid yourself of any disturbing thoughts that might be generating in your mind about stressful topics.

Take some deep breaths and then put on a good love story or comedy movie. Comedy is usually the best medicine for stress, depression, anxiety and all sorts of other conditions. See if it will help you to calm yourself if you get hyped up about life for any reason.

6. Stress Toys

You may also be interested in using stress toys to calm yourself if something bothers you. Stress balls are available if you’re experiencing nervousness about your bills or relationship. Retailers offer stress balls at a relatively low price. Balls aren’t the only toys available for stress, however.

You can also purchase some little games you can play whenever you feel stress sneaking up on you. You can engulf your mind in solving the games, and that will help you to eliminate some of the stress you’re feeling. Again, these items are quite cheap, and they might be well worth the investment.

Start Reducing Your Stress Levels ASAP

Now you know some of the leading ways to reduce stress. You can start your stress-busting journey today by engaging in some of these helpful activities. You’ll be glad you took the time to do so.

If you know someone who is going off to college, you should take the time to celebrate their accomplishment. More importantly, you may start racking your brain to find ways to support them as they embark on this journey.

However, deciding exactly how you’re going to help them can feel sort of challenging. The good news is that you can make this decision a bit easier by considering one of these three tips that can help the person in your life who’s about to begin their collegiate experience.

1. Throw them a memorable graduation party.

Graduation is a huge milestone. Whether it’s preschool, middle school, high school, or college, it’s always a great idea to celebrate an accomplishment and that hard-earned diploma. After all, it’s the little moments in life that make a difference. Help to celebrate your recent grad by throwing a graduation party where they can gather with their closest friends and family to honor their achievements.

When throwing a party, you’ll need to set a date. Once you’ve chosen a date, you’ll want to send out a graduation commencement or graduation party invitation. Luckily, planning for these various graduations is made manageable with services that allow you to create all kinds of superior announcements for your recent graduate.

Shutterfly’s site has almost limitless variations of graduation invites and announcements to choose from. All you have to do is find a design you love and customize it with photographs, colors, and themes to show off your grad’s style and character. Not to mention, they might get gifts from loved ones that they can use to help fund various items they’ll need for their next steps in life.

2. Gift them useful items for school.

Let’s face it, heading off to college is a scary and exciting time. On one hand, most high school graduates going to college are thrilled to get out in the real world. On the other hand, they’re also aware of the pressures to perform well in school and start living their lives as bona fide adults. For these reasons, it’s valuable to buy practical gifts for those who are going off to college. One of these practical gifts is a large room air purifier that ensures improved air quality for your student.

These air purifiers work to remove common pollutants, allergies, and fine particles from the air that can lurk around in dorm rooms and other apartment buildings. After all, these places are being rented out by different students every year, so it makes sense that you want to find a mechanism that can filter the air to provide better air quality.

The large room purifier with a HEPA filter is a reasonable present for a graduate during the current times of the COVID-19 crisis because it can reduce viruses and bacteria. In addition to this, it also has the power to remove mold spores, pollen, and pet dander from the air, which is crucial for any asthma sufferers who are heading off to school. By opting for a reasonable and useful gift like an air purifier, you’re ensuring that your student has ideal indoor air.

3. Offer to be there for them.

Sometimes, the best gifts aren’t material. While this may feel sort of cheesy, it’s actually incredibly important that your loved one knows that they have a support system as they start their collegiate career. One way to support your student is to lend a helping hand during move-ins, video chat or call them on their days off, and express interest in their lives.

Realistically, they may experience some adversity throughout their transition, so you want to make sure that your graduate feels comfortable reaching out to you. The best gift is providing your student with the safety to express how they’re feeling so that they feel encouraged as they conquer their goals. In turn, your grad will move confidently towards their dreams with their favorite people cheering them on every step of the way.

 

In the past year and a half, it’s safe to say we’ve all been a little stressed. Self-care and the ability to decompress have become much more important than ever before. But being able to actually relax after a long day is easier said than done.

The last thing you want to do is begin to stress about not being able to destress. Instead, try some alternative methods you may not have thought of before. Relaxing should be calm, fun, and most of all, easy.

Below, you’ll find some tips on how to relax, including tried and tested methods you may not have considered before. Read on to open up yourself up to a whole new world of relaxation.

1. Use a Breathing Technique

You would be surprised about how great an effect your breathing can have on your entire demeanor. It is possible to use breathing techniques to calm you down, destress, or even help you fall to sleep. Find one that works for you and then practice it at the end of each day.

2. Get Lost in a Good Book

Reading can be a great calming activity. It allows you to become lost in another world and take your mind off life.

It also has the advantages of not being as stimulating or stressful to the senses as television. Just be sure to pick a book that won’t accidentally cause you any undue stress.

3. Create a Calming Corner

One thing you can do to make relaxing easier for yourself is to create a sanctuary that exists exclusively for your own personal tranquility. Find a corner of your home and fill it with calming elements such as candles, incense, and comfortable chars such as this bean bag chair from Yogibo. Creating a cocoon of calm will mean you always have somewhere to switch off and let your stress slip away.

4. Get Into Yoga Practice

Exercise has been proven to help with stress and anxiety. If you don’t feel like hitting the gym after a long day, however, you can try something gentler instead.

Doing yoga is a great way to decompress, unwind, and get those endorphins flowing. You can also couple it with some meditation for added levels of relaxation.

5. Spend Some Time in Nature

Being outside surrounded by nature can be a very calming experience. The sounds and sights can help to bring some serenity to your day. If you’re nowhere near the great outdoors, try spending some time with your pets, animals can pick up on human energy and have a very calming nature.

Tips on How to Relax

Ironically, trying to relax can sometimes be a difficult task. Try out the above tips on how to relax and don’t worry if it takes some time. You can also try putting on a facemask, listening to your favorite music, or treating yourself to a massage.

However you eventually manage to relax, it should be in a way that works for you. If you’ve enjoyed this guide, please check out the rest of our content.

 

With the entire pandemic situation going on around the world, a lot of people were forced to lock down and stay in their homes for a long time. With that being said, people were looking for entertainment online and different activities to do throughout the day. What are the most popular activities that even increased in use during the pandemic were online casinos? Not only are they great forms of entertainment, but a lot of people use them as hobbies and distractions given that they’re very easy to access.

Once a player becomes a regular Gambler, they start to develop tricks and tips to make the entire experience more comfortable to their use. This means that a lot of gamblers use different types of casino gadgets to make the gambling games more fun or easier to play. The main point here is for players to have an exciting time while playing, while at the same time making the entire experience satisfying to the gambler’s expectations.

If you’re looking for a site to get started on online gambling, check out Casino-experts.com to find many games online where you can put your money in and play it to win. Once you become accustomed to the entire gambling experience, you might be ready to start using casino gadgets to play for this summer.

1.Special computer glasses

Some people have realized that after spending long periods of time on the computer or the phone your eyes might start getting a little red and tired. One of the gadgets that are very recommended for casino use is special computer glasses that prevent the blue-computer lighting from going in through them. This way, your eyes are protected at all times, and you can play for a long time.

2.VR headset

There is nothing that compares more to the real-life experience of being in a physical Casino than using a VR headset. This virtual reality Gadget allows players to immerse themselves into a casino environment, where they can gamble and play and feel that they are in an actual Casino Venue at the same time. The best part is that this virtual reality headset is very real, and therefore players will have the full-on experience of going to a casino without even having to leave their homes.

Pick your favorite casino games from websites not connected to gamstop casinos, and play freely by having the full-on gambling experience without leaving the house.

 

Whether you buy items from the store or online, some product packaging can make opening it an extremely frustrating experience.

Amazon offers a wide array of products featured in something called frustration-free packaging, but what exactly does this term mean?

Read on to learn more about the ins and outs of Amazon frustration-free packaging and how it works to make life easier for customers.

What is Frustration-Free Packaging?

The term frustration-free packaging refers to items that are sold online via Amazon and shipped to the consumer. This packaging keeps the product inside safe during shipping to prevent it from becoming damaged while still being easy to open.

In most cases, this type of packaging comes in a smaller box that holds lightweight items. The boxes are extremely easy to open, resulting in a better customer experience while also reducing excess waste.

Retailers and sellers enrolled in the FFP (Frustration-Free Packaging) program use 100% recyclable packing materials. This means that you’re not just getting a better experience, but you’re also helping to contribute to a cleaner environment.

Amazon introduced this type of packaging over ten years ago to help lower costs, reduce waste, and ensure happy customers. Thousands of sellers are now part of the program which includes offering more sustainable packaging options like moving smaller items from cardboard boxes to slim recyclable mailers.

The selection of boxes used to ship Amazon items is now more appropriate based on an item’s weight and size. This has resulted in the elimination of hundreds of thousands of tons of wasted packaging materials.

Certification of Packaging for Amazon Sellers

In order to offer this type of packaging to customers, sellers on Amazon must be certified. Once you’re listed as certified frustration free packaging, you can begin to include this information on your listing so consumers can clearly see that you’re part of the program.

Amazon has been offering this option since 2015, but there are new guidelines put in place as of 2021. There are several steps that must be followed in order for sellers to qualify for the program.

To start, you’ll need to find out the dimensions of your product while it’s in the current packaging. The total length, width, and height of the item and its packaging should be measured and recorded.

Amazon SKUs cannot be heavier than 20 pounds, and they cannot be larger than 18″ x 14′ x 8″. That’s why measuring your product first is such an important step.

The next step in the process involves improving your current packaging design so that it’s ready and able to ship in its own container. As the size of your packaging is reduced, the more incentives you’ll receive from Amazon.

There are two types of certification for this type of packaging: Tier 1 FFP and Tier 2 SIOC. You can get more information about the individual certification requirements directly from Amazon. They also offer access to packaging design agencies in the Amazon Packaging Support and Supplier (APASS) network.

In some cases, vendors will need to eliminate or reduce the use of non-recyclable materials like styrofoam and other things that are not curbside recyclable. Other factors include how products are oriented inside the packaging to protect them while saving space and excess material usage.

Performance Tests

To be certified for this type of packaging, it also has to pass a special physical performance test. For any product that is not fragile or liquid, sellers can perform a self-testing drop sequence. The test reports must be submitted to Amazon for review.

Anything that is considered fragile such as glass, ceramic, clay, or liquid must undergo the ISTA-6A test. This test is required via the Amazon packaging lab, or you may use a third-party lab.

During performance testing, the lab will simulate the journey of a package and how it moves through the Amazon Fulfillment Network. The goal is to determine how to retain and improve the customer experience.

More Frustration-Free Packaging Requirements

After all of the previous requirements have been met, it’s time to measure the new dimensions of your certified packaging. You’ll do the exact same thing you did prior by measuring the outer dimensions of the product in its new packaging.

Record the measurements and use the calculator to determine what your incentive amount will be. It’s important to note that anything you ship that can easily be damaged will need extra space for padding to keep the item protected in transit.

Make sure that you upload your new certification to Amazon’s Vendor Central. This ensures that your information is securely stored in the database and serves as proof that you are now officially certified to offer frustration-free packaging to customers.

While it seems like a daunting process, being able to offer this option is a great thing not just for the environment, but also for Amazon vendors. You’ll be able to reduce waste, make your customers happy, and make some extra money in the process.

Goodbye Frustration

If you are an Amazon vendor, consider getting certified to offer frustration-free packaging to your customers. Not only will this option make packages easier to open, but it will also reduce excess waste and put some extra money in your pocket.

Make sure that you check the Amazon guidelines frequently to ensure that you’re able to certify your packaging according to the current rules.

For more great articles about home and garden, travel, technology, and a whole lot more, visit our website today!

Ideally, all vacations would entail great weather and no natural disaster issues. But because natural disasters generally can’t be predicted too far into the future, there’s always a chance that some kind of catastrophe could happen while you’re traveling, especially if you’re traveling to an area that’s known for having things like hurricanes or earthquakes.

So if you’re planning on visiting a place that has been known to have many or major earthquakes in the past, here are three ways you can stay safe on your trip to this earthquake-prone area.

Choose Your Accommodations Carefully

One of the best ways you can keep yourself safe when going to an area prone to earthquakes is to ensure that the accommodations you’re staying at are going to be safe if an earthquake does happen.

In locations where earthquakes commonly happen or are close to a fault line, most buildings, especially those meant for tourists, will have been built to withstand earthquakes. If you’re not sure whether the place you’re looking at staying will be safe for you, don’t hesitate to call and ask about the foundation of their building and what precautions they have taken against earthquakes. Because other visitors will likely have this same concern, they should be able to easily give you this information.

Enroll In STEP Before You Leave

Before you take off on your trip, one great way to ensure that you’ll have what you need if and when an earthquake does happen is to enroll in STEP, which is the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. Through this program, DepartSmart.org shares that you’ll be able to get information from the U.S. Embassy or consulate in the area you’re visiting after an emergency takes place. This information can be invaluable to you if things in the country have gotten very damaged after the earthquake.

Additionally, by enrolling in STEP, you will also have the U.S. government on your side to help you get the assistance you need in the event of an emergency as well as contacting your family back home to keep them informed on where you are and what’s going on.

Make A Plan For Your Safety

Once you make it to your destination, it’s now up to you to take some precautions that will help make your stay as safe as possible if an earthquake strikes.

Some of the measures you may want to consider taking, according to Colleen Clark, a contributor to the BBC, is to figure out where to get emergency health care in the area you’re visiting, learn where the emergency exits are in your hotel, and make a plan for where you’ll take cover if the ground starts shaking. By thinking about these things beforehand, you’ll be better able to keep your head if there is an earthquake.

If you’re a little nervous about traveling to an area that’s prone to earthquakes, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you make a plan and stay safe.

The United States has a family reunification program that can help you reunite with your family if they reside in another country. The Hart-Celler Immigration Act of 1965. An immigration lawyer can further explain the process, discuss whether you are eligible, and help you file for an immigrant visa petition.

There are two types of family-based immigrant visas. The immediate relative visa is for your spouse, child, or parent, and for specific family relationships, you have the family preference visa.

Keep in mind that under US law, a person is considered a “child” if they are single and under 21 years of age.

What is the Hart-Celler Immigration Act of 1965?

It is a legislated system of immigration control that replaced the discriminatory national origins system. It applied a new system of preferences for family reunification, employment, and refugees. This has also been the first time that immigration has also been capped within the US.

What are the qualifications for family reunification in the US?

You are eligible for the family reunification program if you are an immediate relative of a US citizen. Under US law, an “immediate family member” is the child (single and under 21 years of age), spouse, or parent of the US citizen requesting family reunification.

What is the process for family reunification?

Firstly, you will need to submit your application for family reunification. If you are indeed eligible for family reunification, here is what you can do to apply:

If you are in the US, you may file form I-485, an application to register permanent residence, or adjust your status to apply for a green card without leaving the country.

Also, you can file form I-485 with the form I-130, petition on behalf of an alien relative to the USCIS. Immigrant visas for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens are unlimited.

Second, you should submit the following documents and evidence:

1. Form I-485
2. Copy of the form I-797
3. 2 Passport style photographs
4. Copy of government-issued ID with photograph
5. Copy of birth certificate
6. Copy of form I-94

Also, if you are a refugee, you can apply for the I-730 process that is a refugee relative petition. With this, you may petition for your spouse and children.

You can contact an immigration lawyer for more details, and help you fulfill your requirements, and help you submit your documents for you to get your green card in the US.

How can immigration lawyers help you get your US Visa approved

Applying for a green card can be complicated. But with experienced immigration lawyers, the whole process can be smooth and hassle-free.

You will have someone to legally represent you in US court and help you fulfill your requirements, file your application, and explain to you in detail the legal actions that you can take to get a green card.

Reunite with your family as soon as possible. Contact an immigration lawyer today.

 

Helping your children to have a great relationship with your parents or grandparents can prove to be a huge benefit in the lives of your children. Not only will they have a stronger connection to your family as a whole, but the experiences your children can have sharing moments and memories with their grandparents and great-grandparents can help them to become more caring, compassionate, and patient people.

If your kids don’t already have a stellar relationship with your parents or grandparents, there are some activities that you can facilitate to help them better get to know each other and connect. To help you see what these things are, here are three fun activities kids and grandparents can enjoy together.

Arts and Crafts

For most kids, getting to be creative with arts and crafts projects is an opportunity to have fun and get messy. This can also be a great way for your kids and your parents or grandparents to work together to create something beautiful or just have fun together.

In addition to giving your children and your parents a common piece to work toward creating, Alexandra Sifferlin, a contributor to Time.com, shares that elderly people who get creative with arts and crafts are 73 percent less likely to experience the mild cognitive impairment that often comes with age. So along with helping your kids learn to be more creative and building a lasting relationship between these two generations, you’ll also be helping your elderly loved one to stay mentally fit.

Sharing Their Favorite Music

Another fun activity that your kids can do with your parents or grandparents is to share some of their favorite music with one another.

Music is something that can cross generations. It’s also a great way to show that you care about and what touches you. So by having your kids and your elderly loved one share with each other what music they like, they can begin to gain more insight into one another and learn about music that they may not have been exposed to before. And if your elderly loved one lives in something like an independent living community, you may be able to have other parents or grandparents join in, too.

Play Games Together

Choosing games that your kids and parents or grandparents can play together can be a great way for them to either work together or experience some good-hearted competition between one another. Games like card games, table games, and even computer games can be a great way for your kids to connect to their elderly loved ones.

In fact, Kalhan Rosenblatt, a contributor to NBC News, shares that more and more people aged 50 and over are playing online video games as a way to stay connected with their families when they can’t be physically together. Also, having your child teach their grandparents online video games can also help that grandparent get social interaction with others around the world, too.

If you’re wanting to find some activities that your kids and your parents or grandparents can enjoy doing together, consider using the tips mentioned above as a good starting point.

 

Do you want to venture into trading markets? Or do you want to learn about online trading but don’t know where to start? Check out our mini-guide to better understand trading and learn how to trade and earn money today.

The definition of trading

Trading consists of buying or selling assets in different financial markets. Unlike investing, the objective of trading is to speculate on market trends and act on changes in the prices of financial assets.

Selecting your trading intermediary

The most convenient way to start trading markets is via the online brokerage service. There are several important factors to pay attention to in order to select the broker. As already mentioned, the broker should comply with strict trading regulations. That’s the guarantee you start your trading on a highly secured platform and that you deal with an honest and trustworthy company.

Moreover, the broker that is ready to enable you free education through tutorials, ebooks, or even mini-courses should be at the top of your list.

Furthermore, make sure that the company enables opening various types of trading accounts and diverse trading assets. That will get you more wiggle room for diversification of investments and risk management.

Finally, choose the trading intermediary in line with your trading plan, meaning the initial capital you are ready to invest, the strategies you aim to implement, and so on.

Financial assets are grouped into several categories:

• Commodities (gold, oil, etc.)
• Stocks (the Stock Exchange)
• Bonds: a value representing a share of a company’s debts
• CFD (Contract for Difference): Trading derivatives to speculate on rapidly changing financial markets (forex, commodities, etc.)
• Stock market indices (CAC 40, Nasdaq, etc.)
• Forex (currency pairs)
• Cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.)

Fees applied to online trading.

To better understand trading, you should also be aware of the various fees you may encounter when opening an online trading account.

Although online brokers offer much more attractive prices than bank brokers, this does not necessarily mean that the cheapest online brokers are necessarily the most attractive to you.

The different fees applied to online trading are:

• Account opening and closing costs
• Transfer fees
• Spread fees
• Rollover fees

These brokerage fees are either fixed or as a percentage.

Regulation in trading

Before you start trading, it is important to know that the regulations in the world of speculation are very strict. All brokers are regulated and must obtain licenses to be able to operate on the national market. It makes it possible to certify the authenticity of the broker and his quality of services.

All official regulatory authorities will:

• ensure the protection of the traders,
• regulate brokers and provide exemptions in the event of non-compliance,
• supervise and exercise regular control over them.

Payment methods for online trading

In addition to the regulations, it is also important to consider the different payment methods offered by the broker. Each broker chooses the payment methods used as well as the fees applied.

Although you usually have the choice to make your deposits or withdrawals, the bank card is still widely used. Bank transfers, although secure and practical, remain very slow in terms of processing times.