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A Complete Guide for First-Time Home Buyers

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What’s life without a home to call your own? Everyone needs a place of residence whether single or with a family. It simply is a thing of joy. However, a home is not something that’s easy to have. It requires time, dedication, and most importantly, money. Enough money to help you acquire your dream house is sadly not always easy to come by.

This is when a home loan comes into the picture. Nevertheless, you must not jump at every mortgage offer which seems like a good deal. That is why this article has been written. It is a set of tips, tricks, and must-knows for every new home buyer looking to secure a loan. So, let’s get started.

  • Save Money

If you can save enough and buy the house then why not, but it’s never as simple as that, so even if you can’t save enough to buy the house, then you should at least save enough so you can afford the down payment. This would show your willingness to get the house secured as yours. After all, it would just be plain ridiculous if you had to borrow money for the down payment.

  • Have a Good Financial History

No one wants to lend money to a person with a bad financial score. This is why you have to make sure that your loan history and repayment are all reasonable. You will be submitting your financial documents so it is imperative your most recent financial transactions do not present you as an extravagant spender. This is why it is important that you do whatever is necessary to make your credit score presentable.

  • Scrutinize Offers

Before you settle for the first available loan offer that you see, first ensure that it caters to your needs. You should properly scrutinize the market for all the available loan offers. Don’t be deceived into going for a loan offer because it has a seemingly reasonable interest rate. You should also ensure that there aren’t any hidden charges and fees that make it more expensive than what you originally thought was more costly.

  • Go for a Loan That’s Right for You

There are different types of loans, you have to be careful on sections the one which you wish to opt for. This is why you have to make extensive research before you invest your time and money into a loan. There are various types of loans, from jumbo to fixed each with different down payment and eligibility requirements.

The major categories of mortgage are conventional mortgages, loans from the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), loans from the USDA, loans from the Veterans Administration (VA).Itis up to you to determine which of them fits best in your income, budget, savings, etc.

  • Always Keep in Touch

Communication is key, this is why you have to endeavor to be the most informed. You should make sure that you regularly keep in touch with your lenders so you don’t miss out on anything. This is because they may request some form of information or confirmation which required urgent attention. However, if you are unavailable, you may lose out on this.

  • Think About Taking a Long-Term Loan

You also have different choices when it comes to the length of your loan.New home loan borrowers should plan their house purchases with an awareness of their present and future obligations when arranging theirEMIsbecause home loans are big investments with a long-term nature.

Consider prepaying or raising yourEMIswhen your income rises to help you pay off your debt faster.The majority of house purchasers opt for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, which has a fixed interest rate and is paid off in 30 years.

If you are intending to buy a new home, there are tins of things you should consider; location, security, and most importantly, affordability. However, if you have your dream house all planned out but no matter how much you save you would not be able to achieve the amount required for you to buy the house on time, you may want to consider getting a loan. Some of the bestmortgage lendersare committed to making your home buying process easier.

Loans can be tricky, especially mortgage loans, you might end up paying for the rest of your life, this is why you need to know all the ins and outs of loans. Well, you are in luck because, in this article, we cover everything that is needed to be known about mortgage loans and how best to walk into and out of the situation.

3 Tips For Balancing Work And Family

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If you have a career that you are very focused on and also have a family at home, you already know firsthand exactly how stressful it can be to try and balance both. You may be a workaholic because you like to make enough money to support your family, or maybe you are just really passionate about your job. Either way, work can sometimes be all-consuming, and it is important to remember to make time for yourself and your family as well. If finding this balance is something you struggle with, here are a few tips to help you out.

Consider Therapy

If you are having trouble deciding what your priorities should be, you may want to consider going to see a professional therapist. They deal with people who are trying to juggle a full time job with a busy family life all the time, and may have some ideas you haven’t thought of on your own. Just like ground improvement specialists are hired to make sure a job site is safe and prevent structure failure, a therapist will be able to help you build a strong foundation on which to build.

Have Boundaries

Creating boundaries for yourself, both at work and at home, is a great first step in learning how to balance your work life with your home life in a healthy way. For example, if you tell your boss you cannot work weekends, do not sway on this and say ‘yes’ if they ask you to work on a weekend. If your family is asking you to take too many days off work, let them know. For instance, tell your wife that if you take a day off to go to the zoo with them, you won’t be able to take another day off to go to the baseball game. It will have to be one or the other. If you have trouble with boundaries, look inward and consider why this might be.

Switch Careers

A slightly more radical idea is that you may want to change careers in order to be able to spend more time with your family. These days, there are many jobs where you can work from home a lot, and workweeks that are under 40 hours are becoming more and more commonplace. Think about your options before making any brash decisions, but remember that at the end of the day your family should be more important than your job. If you aren’t able to make it work with your current career, you may just want to explore other options. Who knows, you may find something that will end up being the perfect fit for your work/family balance.

Many aspects of life are hard enough on their own, but when you’re trying to balance them all at the same time, it can feel pretty overwhelming. Try these above tips to see if they can help you!

 

How to Start a Wholesale Distribution Business

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The wholesale business is one of the best to enter if you have an entrepreneur’s mindset and enough working capital for your business model. Retailers rely on distributors to provide different types of products at prices beneficial to their end customers. It’s an industry worth over $3 trillion and with over 300,000 companies in the United States serving as vendors.

There’s more to being a supplier than buying different types of products in bulk at low prices and selling them to retailers. It requires an understanding of sales, marketing, and supply and demand. So, how do you get started in the wholesale industry? We’ll cover that and more in this short article.

Choose a specific market on which to focus.

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One of the first steps to becoming a wholesale supplier is finding your niche. Every industry needs wholesale distribution, and focusing on one sector or marketplace is the best way to grow your reputation.

It’s imperative to focus on high-demand products when choosing a wholesale trade. One way to find out what products are the hottest is to check the sales of retail stores. The grocery, general merchandise, and apparel industries are among the largest in the United States, and they’re essential. Those are industries that provide security and great potential for success.

It’s also wise to choose an industry about which you already know a great deal. For beverage enthusiasts, it would make sense to become a premium liquor distributor. You could use your knowledge of the best vodka brands to provide liquor retailers with high-quality goods at competitive prices.

Determine your business needs.

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You have to be a master of acquisition to succeed as a wholesale distributor. Your first acquisition will be a warehouse and the operational equipment you need to run your company. So, you need to figure out how much warehouse space and what equipment your company will need.

If you’re selling small, lightweight products, you might not even need a warehouse. Did you know the first Amazon “fulfillment center” was Jeff Bezos’ garage? He even made deliveries in his car. So, if you’re selling small items, you shouldn’t need much space or equipment.

On the other hand, if you’re a reseller of groceries or furniture, you’ll need more space and some forklifts to do the heavy lifting. Moreover, you’ll have to work out your business’s logistics. Will you deliver your goods or go through a third-party delivery company? These are the questions to ask yourself when building your wholesale infrastructure.

Find manufacturers in your industry from which to buy.

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Wholesalers act as middlemen between retailers and manufacturers. So, building relationships with manufacturers and retail businesses is one of your most important responsibilities. If you plan to distribute a single product like nutritional supplements, you’ll need to find the right nutritional manufacturing companies to build your inventory.

New companies in the wholesaling industry spend much of their first few years trying to pin down their distribution channels. It’s wise to work with manufacturers and retailers within close proximity of your company in the early going. As your business and inventory expand, you can add retailers from different regions to your growing list of retailers.

The distribution industry is a multi-trillion-dollar industry that’s steadily growing. It is one of the industries in which you can start as a small business and work your way to becoming a large corporation. The keys to success in the wholesale industry are hiring the right people, procuring and selling high-quality products at low prices, and attracting new customers. With the right products and strategy, your company can become a supply chain stalwart.

Inspiring Stories of Fitness and Kindness

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Obesity can be annoying as it prevents you from living an active life. Everyday tasks become more difficult, and you have to work extra hard for little things in life. On top of it, fat accompanies many health problems that you can’t ignore.

Thyroid, cholesterol, high blood pressure, changes of stroke, and coronary heart diseases are only some of them. In the US,the rate of adult obesityis 42.4%. It’s a challenging task to reduce this percentage.

Once the fat starts getting stored in your body, it becomes tougher to do everyday tasks. You’re out of breath more often and sweat a lot. It’s easier to obtain fat but losing it takes immense effort and patience. Most people give up even before starting their journey to get fit.

It’s understandable as this is not an easy task. Working out at least four times a week and dieting is tough. That too when you get frequent urges to eat junk food. But there are people out there who’ve made it happen for themselves. They took the challenge and got it done.

Below are the three amazing stories of people who beat the fat and got their fit selves back

Chrissy

Chrissy was 30 years old and 515 pounds when she started her journey. She was obese with many health problems and feared that she wouldn’t see her 35th birthday. That’s when she realized that she had to change her habits and consult doctors. They diagnosed her and found out that she’s only a few years away from being diabetic and is at risk of heart disease.

She started working out with the help of specialized private trainers withcertificate 4 in fitness. These are qualified trainers who played a key role in educating Chrissy about the importance of each workout. She then followed a strict diet as suggested by doctors. Doctors suggestedBariatric Surgeryas her body mass index was not stable. After which, she regularly exercised for a few months.

Chrissy lost 245 pounds in six months. She’s almost half of her original weight, and her journey is no short of an inspiration for many. She’s healthier, happier and more energetic than ever.

Cillas

Cillas remarkable journey took him to over 700 pounds (ca. 318 kg) to 249 pounds (ca. 113 kg) in two years. He was obese and was not able to walk due to his weight. He had a daughter whom he couldn’t play with because of his condition. He began his journey by visiting a doctor who asked him to reach 375 pounds (ca. 170 kg).

Cillas stayed in the hospital and followed their diet schedule rigorously. After eight months, his weight was down to 371 pounds (ca. 168 kg). His family visited him in the hospital, where he stood up in front of his daughter for the first time. This was a mesmerizing moment for him as his daughter hugged with joy and was very happy to see her father standing up. Seeing his hard work, the doctor approved his surgery to cut down extra fat.

After a successful surgery, Cillas set up his journey for the goal weight, which he achieved within a year. He was down to 249 pounds (ca. 113 kg) and could do everything that any person can. From being big ridden for many years, Cillas gained his personality and identity back with sheer dedication and discipline.

Brandan

Brandan was a 27-year-old man living in Huston with his girlfriend. He weighed over 700 pounds, and he felt trapped in his body. He wanted to stop eating, but all he could think of was food. He almost felt like a slave to his desire. When his girlfriend told him that she’d have to do his cleaning for him now, he knew he had to change.

Brandan began his journey by working hard on his workouts with trainers and following a strict diet. He was so dedicated that he lost 250 pounds (ca. 113 kg) within a few months. Even doctors were surprised by his recovery. Due to this dedication, he got approval for the surgery.

He also consulted with psychiatrists to find core problems regarding his eating habits. All this hard work together worked wonders, and Brandan was down to 265 pounds (ca. 120 kg). After one year and six months of rigorous training and diet. All that was left was loose skin which the doctors removed through surgery. Brandan started a new life by marrying his girlfriend and moving to Toronto to pursue his music career.

These were the people who took charge of their bodies and transformed it for the better. These people are an inspiration to many. You, too, can make some changes in your habits if you suffer from obesity. Doctors are available to help you with the process. All you have to do is show some dedication and discipline.

 

Billing Lies Correctly – Gregory Pimstone of Manatt

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Incidences of health care fraud remain at high levels despite the extreme attention paid by policymakers and law enforcement. This is because significant scams appear to be artfully designed to bypass routine controls given the many control loopholes, and they can remain invisible for long a long time. According to Gregory Pimstone of Manatt, the proportion of annual healthcare expenditures lost to fraud remains unknown because they are not systematically measured. Many healthcare fraud cases are being committed against Medicare and Medicaid, government-run health insurance programs funded by tax payers.

Money Over health?

Dishonest service providers commit many types of healthcare fraud; For example, a service provider performs unnecessary treatment or procedure on a patient to bill insurance. In agreement with this, many primary care physicians believe that their patients are receiving too much unnecessary care that is meant to benefit the care givers financially sometimes at the expense of the health of the patients- Some of these tests, like X-rays, are potentially harmful to the patients’ health. Other methods employed by these fraudsters making a billing to the insurer for more expensive drugs than those provided and claim reimbursement or include prescriptions that were never offered.

Data theft

Recently, stolen medical records are more valuable to thieves than credit card numbers. There are evidence indicating that insincere charges have been claimed and paid to fraudsters who use stolen medical records. For example, some providers will steal information about a particular patient and use the information to bill insurance for services, procedures, and supplies that were not provided.

Mislabeling of Treatments

Other medical practitioners mislabel a treatment that is not covered by insurance with one that is. This often happens on controversial procedures that are not yet approved. The providers lure the patients to participate in this kind of fraud since the patient’s additional costs are waived. Ambulance workers have also found a way to scam the system by offering patients kickbacks for pretending that they cannot walk, thus allowing them to qualify for emergency pickups. The ambulance company charges Medicare for the services.

Need for Action

Looking at the health care system, many loopholes affect the sector’s integrity however sensitive it is. There is a need for policies and health provision procedures to be improved by considering all these challenges and loopholes. Healthcare providers must be committed to keeping the integrity of the healthcare system intact because many people have entrusted them with their health, and they must prove themselves worthy of this trust.

 

Keeping the Home Safe from Pests After a Storm

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The damage caused by hurricanes has risen in the past few decades. Communities in the path of these unstoppable forces of nature see homes and businesses destroyed. The impact of the natural disaster extends way beyond the day the hurricane hits. It also causes lost revenues, which reduces tax collection that can help provide funds for community services.

Additionally, the downed trees and standing water in the area also result in insects and other pests looking for a place where they can stay safe. And often, it’s the homes of the people who are still reeling from the effects of the hurricane. People whose homes were left relatively unscathed can expect these pests to try to set up a nest in some of the nooks and crannies in the house.

Due to this, homeowners should prepare for an increase in pest populations a couple of days or weeks after a storm hits. Here are some things that these homeowners should do.

Step Up on Your Pest Control Efforts

Before reports of a storm or hurricane come in, homeowners should control the pest population in their properties. They can start by inspecting the interior and exterior of the home. Homeowners should look for potential structural issues in the house and deal with them. These structural issues might worsen when a storm or hurricane hits the area.

With this, they should seal cracks using silicone-based caulk. They should also hire professionals to fix any water-damaged areas in the house. This prevents pests from entering the home through cracks on the wall. Homeowners should also make sure that the landscape around the house slopes away from the structure to prevent water from entering the foundation.

Additionally, homeowners should empty garbage cans or keep the lids tight to prevent pests from breeding in these places. They should also make sure to let professionals control the tick and mosquito population in the house. These professionals have the experience and equipment to deal with these pests before a storm arrives.

Check the Home for Water Damage

Homeowners should also check the house for rotting wood that might attract termites. This is particularly true if the foundation of the house is made of wood beams. These pests can work themselves through the flooring, wood joists, and other wooden parts of the house, which can cause a lot of damage over time.

Removing rotting debris and fixing damaged pipes prevent oversaturation of the soil around the house. When the soil has excessive amounts of water, pests living underground will enter the house seeking shelter. Additionally, homeowners should make sure the landscaping around the house slopes away from the structure. This allows the water to move away from the house rather than pooling around the house, which can damage its foundation.

Eliminate Standing Water in the Property

Standing water serves as the breeding ground for mosquitoes that bring deadly diseases affecting the health of the homeowner and his family. While a storm brings high winds that can eliminate adult mosquitoes, the floodwater it leaves allows mosquito eggs to hatch. So, homeowners should try to address any standing water in the property before and after a storm.

They should check clogged gutters, grill covers, birdbaths, and garbage cans. If they see water collecting in these locations, they should drain the water out. Homeowners should also check the backyard for any pools of water collecting in the ground and deal with them by filling them with dirt. If the yard has a water feature, such as a pond or drainage canal, they should spread environment-friendly larvicide.

Dispose of Spoiled Food Properly

Spoiled food can attract flies and other pests into the house. So, homeowners should get rid of any spoiled food to prevent exposing the family to diseases that pests can bring into the home. They should put spoiled food inside sealed trash bags and deposit them inside a garbage can with a lid. Homeowners should also make sure to seal the lids of the garbage cans to prevent attracting rodents.

If food gets spoiled during a power outage after a storm, homeowners should still put them inside sealed trash bags. They should also ensure that sanitation workers pick up the discarded food by segregating it from other trash materials, such as construction debris. Sanitation workers prioritize the pick-up of common garbage over other materials, especially after a natural disaster. Separating common garbage from other debris ensures that these workers will collect spoiled food as soon as possible.

Pests are extra nuisances when a storm hits an area. To prevent these pests from invading homes, homeowners should take the necessary steps before and after the storm arrives.

Why Healthcare Fraud Prosecutions are Ramping Up with John LeBlanc of Manatt 

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The Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently announced that it is ramping up its efforts to fight healthcare fraud, and one of the tools it has in this fight is the False Claims Act. The last several months have seen several high-profile cases filed as part of this effort. Unfortunately, as the healthcare industry continues to attract large sums of money through government-funded programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, those cases are likely to continue. One attorney who is very familiar with these cases is John LeBlanc of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips. LeBlanc has a long history of representing pharmaceutical and medical device companies, and he is currently working on several qui tam lawsuits involving Medicare fraud.

In this interview, LeBlanc discusses the recent uptick in False Claims Act activity, including the qui tam lawsuits filed by whistleblowers. He also discusses some of the criteria that OIG uses when deciding which cases to pursue and goes through several of his current cases involving Medicare fraud.

In the last few months, what percentage of your work has been devoted to healthcare fraud cases?

“I’d say about half. It’s a significant amount. I think it represents a trend that we’ll probably see going forward, with OIG being more aggressive in pursuing these types of matters. They have many tools available to them – the False Claims Act is one of them and the civil monetary penalties law under HIPAA. So they have several tools at their disposal to use in these types of cases.”

Do you think that’s going to be the case going forward? That OIG is going to dedicate more resources toward healthcare fraud cases?

“I do because the OIG has a limited number of people that do this, so they have to pick and choose which ones they think are the most important. They have an excellent staff who understand these types of cases. I can’t say enough about how good they are.”

Is it the same group of attorneys working on these False Claims Act cases? Do they specialize in that?

“They have a number of people who work on them, and the larger OIG staff supports them. We’ve had a chance to work with some outstanding and talented lawyers when we worked on matters involving Medicaid.”

What are your thoughts about the criteria that OIG is using to decide which cases it pursues?

“I think it’s many factors. It involves the strength, pertinence, and merit of the allegations and things like whether or not they’d be able to get cooperation from other people who may come forward and assist them in the case. They’re looking for important cases to achieve their mission: correcting fraud, waste, and abuse in the healthcare system. It involves things like whether or not there has been an impact on public trust, which I think is more of a factor that they consider now than it used to be.”

“I think another factor that they consider is whether or not it would have an impact on the larger fraud scheme involving public health programs. So, a matter might involve a small amount of money, but the total fraud scheme could be worth millions and millions of dollars – maybe even more – so if they can stop something like that early on, it prevents public health programs from having to pay for all that stuff. In those larger schemes, the government may have been paying for things that it shouldn’t have, so they want to stop that.”

The History of Puzzle Games

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The main focus of puzzle games is channeled towards solving puzzles. The player’s problem-solving skills are tested when playing puzzle games. In some of these games, gamers have unlimited time and attempts, while others have a time limit. The historical aspect of puzzle games throughout the centuries goes back to mind teasers and puzzles. Below is a clear picture of the history of how some of the current puzzle games we play were developed.

Traditional thinking games

Traditional thinking games have greatly influenced many puzzle games. An example is seen from the math game, which is a digital version of the Android Nim for the TRS-80. The mastermind and the Hangman are also some of the traditional games that got their early video game interpreted.

Atari Puzzle Games

The Atari 2600 is the first video game from Atari. Game developers were quick to create games for it after its release in 1977. Predecessor, currently known as the Minesweeper, was the first-ever puzzle game for the console.

A blockbuster for the Atari 8-bIt was released in 1981 by Stephen Bradshaw and Alan Griesemer. A copy of the board game was released in the 1970s. Snark Hunt was then released for the Atari 8-Bit in 1982.

Action Games with Puzzles

Konami released locomotion in 1982. The game was an action game that had some puzzle elements. Some of the elements in the game can be seen in the game called the LucasArts’ Pipe Mania which was released in 1989.

In 1984, an action-puzzle game called Puzzle Picnic was released for the Atari 8-bit. In the same year, the game developers also released Boulder Dash. Avoiding rocks and collecting diamonds were some of the things featured in the game. Many clones called rocks and diamond games were developed from this game.

Chain Shot introduced gameplay where gamers were required to remove tiles of the same color. Uncle Henry’s Nuclear waste Dump functioned just like Tetris, although the game developer claimed he was never aware of this aspect.  Way before Tetris reached the Us market, the game had already been released.

Tetris

According to Gaming enthusiasts, Tetris is viewed as a game that revolutionized the puzzle genre. The game was developed by a Russian designer by the name of Alexey Pajitnov in 1985. According to Alexey, he got his inspiration from a traditional puzzle game known as Pentomino. In Pentomino, gamers were expected not to produce any gaps while trying to arrange failing blocks.

After Holobytehas released the game for MS-DOS in 1987, the game became very popular. Atari Games released it in arcades in the following year. More than 30 million units of the game were sold on the Game Boy.

In a nutshell, it is clearly evident that in the past 40 years, the gaming world has undergone a reinvention of new puzzle games that have widely spread globally. The puzzle genre has been diversified over these years, and there is no possibility of it stopping in the near future.

Ileana Hernandez of Manatt Discusses How to Stop Healthcare Fraud

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Healthcare fraud is a growing problem in the U.S., according to the Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (OCR). The OCR has issued several publications to help health care providers prevent incidences of fraud in the industry. Ileana Hernandez of Manatt helps shed light on how to protect one’s business from fraud.

Health care fraud costs the country millions of dollars each year, according to Hernandez. “The federal government has said it is losing $60 billion a year,” she said. “That data is often debated, but there’s certainly billions of dollars that are lost every year due to healthcare fraud or abuse.”

As the industry changes, organizations must make sure to protect themselves from fraud. “That’s why it’s so important for health care providers to understand the federal and state anti-fraud statutes,” Hernandez stated. “Those laws are constantly changing because of new developments in healthcare reform. For example, the Stark law has changed over time, and there’s more and more regulation of the industry.”

Hernandez said that rules and regulations related to fraud and abuse in healthcare could be complicated and difficult to understand, even for seasoned attorneys. “There are a lot of health care fraud cases that we handle involving Stark law violations or kickbacks,” she explained. “It is an area that is constantly evolving, so staying on the cutting edge of changes is important for attorneys who work in this area.”

The Department of Justice (DOJ) allows violators to self-disclose fraud when possible, according to Hernandez. “That is often referred to as a ‘Whistleblower Action or Bounty Action,’ which provides an opportunity for physicians, pharmacists, or people who have knowledge of fraud to report it under certain circumstances and potentially receive a financial reward.

Hernandez stated that those who know about healthcare fraud should consult an attorney about whistleblower actions and the rules surrounding reporting.

“I think that people should be critical and ask: ‘What is the basis for this? Is it true? Has anything occurred that would support me putting my name on a whistleblower action, or has something occurred to incentivize me to do so?'”

Hernandez added, “People have to be careful because there are rules governing whistleblower actions, including the requirement that you go through the government first before you can file your claim.”

To avoid potential liability under these anti-fraud statutes, organizations should create a comprehensive compliance program. There are many guidelines for compliance programs, but healthcare providers must ensure their compliance program includes the following six components:

1. Written Standards of Conduct for Employees

2. A Code of Ethics for Board Members

3. Compliance Training Programs

4. Designated Person or Persons with Responsibility for Compliance Matters

5. Procedures to Monitor and Supervise Third-Party Service Providers

6. An Effective System of Internal Controls

In addition to the six components above, organizations should implement a compliance hotline for employees to report concerns anonymously and train supervisors to identify signs of potential federal healthcare fraud.

“Health care providers need to be proactive about preventing violations before they happen,” Hernandez said. “By implementing a compliant program and making sure to educate their staff on it, organizations can greatly reduce the risk of being involved in a federal healthcare fraud investigation.”

Hernandez concluded by reminding providers that understanding the various anti-fraud provisions is critical for every organization member because everyone will be held liable under these statutes.

“It’s important for healthcare providers to know their obligations under these laws, what they allow and do not allow, and to make sure that the organization is staying compliant with all federal regulations.”

WHAT IS UNDERGROUND CELLAR

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Underground Cellar is an exciting new way to discover, buy, and store limited-edition wines. Through gamification technology, the platform enables its users to buy wine within their price range and thereafter upgrade a few to higher quality wines. Apart from buying, members can also get free upgrades by introducing friends and participating in discussions with other users. Joining the platform is an easy and free process, provided one is over 21 years.

THEIR APPROACH

Thanks to Underground Cellar, wine enthusiasts can now find and learn about wine, as well as buy bottles at their price point while simultaneously leveling up. The e-commerce website also helps the wineries by offering them a different approach to moving their inventory. Underground Cellar redefines the value of premium wine by offering randomized upgrades rather than discounts. This protects the wineries from the negative consequences of discounting their brands and, at the same time, providing a better new way for its members to experience high-end wines without visiting the store to purchase. Most of its deals are direct with the winery, and therefore, a customer is guaranteed of receiving their purchased bottle straight from the winery itself.

OFFERS

Every week, different offers are posted on the platform for its members to view. Each offer consists of a few similar wines with varying listed prices. Members are then required to choose and pay for the lowest-priced bottle. This provides the members a chance to be upgraded to a higher priced-bottle. The process is transparent because all upgrading information is available on the platform.

THE CLOUDCELLAR

Active members are provided with an opportunity to become wine collectors by offering them a place to store and accumulate their purchased bottles in the company’s wine cellar called Cloud Cellar. Located in Napa Valley, California, the Cloud Cellar is a humidity and temperature-controlled cellar where members are allowed to store over 500 bottles of wine from several different wineries. They can keep the bottles for unlimited time, and when ready, they simply click on their “CloudCellar” tab and select which bottles they want to be shipped to them. Members can also request that these bottles be delivered chilled and ready to drink to practically any location in the United States. Another benefit is that members receive free ground shipping when they ship 12 bottles.