November 28, 2007 letter to Congressman Dan Lungren from Sandi Trend, given to Lungren Staff at the Town Hall Meeting in the City of Folsom, California view letter→ HERE
November 28, 2007 letter/official statement to Congressman Dan Lungren from Douglas R. Haney, Maridea EnviroHealth Research & Consulting, Inc. & CA EPA Registered Environmental Assessor, given to Lungren Staff at the Town Hall Meeting in the City of Folsom, California view letter→ PART ONE , PART TWO , PART THREE
ATTENDING:
STEVE & KOSMEE ZELTZER
DINA J. PADILLA
DOUGLAS R. HANEY
SANDI TREND
NOTE: After the Townhall meeting began, when Sandi Trend tried to speak, Mr. Lundgren shut her down and said, “This is a worker’s compensation matter.” After this, Dina Padilla had said something to the effect of “this lady back here” (pointing to Ms. Trend) “I want you (Dan Lundgren) to commit to a congressional hearing on the cost shifting to Medicare and Social Security from worker’s compensation and this is a Federal Issue.” At that point Ms. Trend found her voice and again stood up and attempted to address Congressman Lundgren, at which time he tried to make her sit down again, Ms. Trend said, “No, my son’s medical bills as of the end of 2005 were over $333,000 and it was Social Security who paid for them” . Dan Lundgren then said something the effect that he would be happy to set up a meeting with Ms. Trend . It was then Dina Padilla continued speaking and was informing Congressman Lundgren that what is happening is fraud being committed against the Federal government and elaborated on this issue.
Steve Zeltzer from the San Francisco bay area had also spoke at the Lundgren TownHall meeting. Instead of addressing Dan Lundgren personally he addressed the standing room only townhall meeting audience and he was allowed to speak. He covered every issue that had been addressed by Dina Padilla and Ms. Trend and had gone into extensive detail about the criminal acts committed by the workers compensation system. He also addressed his outrage of “cost shifting” by the state of California in regard to the workers compensation system’s unjust treatment of it’s injured workers. Mr. Zeltzer also addressed the issue of unknown microorganisms being allowed to be brought into the United States illegally and he too requested a congressional investigation into this matter.
A day or two after the November 28, 2007 Lundgren TownHall meeting Mr. Haney was contacted by Lundgren’s staff and an appointment had been scheduled with not Congressman Dan Lundgren, but some of his staff the following week. At this meeting Mr. Haney again reiterated what he had said in his “official statement” that was given to Dan Lundgren’s staff the evening of November 28, 2007.
Mr Haney also addressed the issues of “cost shifting” within the worker’s compensation system, the need for an immediate congressional investigation as well as the fact that bringing microorganisms into the United States from other countries, without the proper permits was an issue of homeland security. He was told, at the end of the meeting, he would be contacted shortly. He has heard nothing.
Approximately a week and a half to two weeks after the townhall meeting Dina Padilla and April Gottman had also been granted a meeting with Alex Snyder and Joshiah Prendergast of Dan Lundgren’s office. Dina spoke extensively on the fraud in the workers compensation system and the major fraudulent cost shifting to Medicare and Social Security by insurance companies and self insured employers.
The conversation also included David Bell's case and the potential hazards of working with unknown microorganisms and that Mr Bell's case was not just a workers compensation case, it was also a Federal matter. Dina Padilla also reiterated that Mr. Bell's case, as well as cases too numerous to count, were being “cost shifted” to Medicare and Social Security when in fact the workers compensation insurance carrier should be paying for medical care and benefits. Dina emphatically stated this is fraud on the American taxpayers.
Mrs. Padilla was also concerned that money that should be used for retirement was being used for injuries that should be paid by the injured worker’s employer and their insurance carriers, that the worker’s compensation system is rift with fraud and corruption and at that time gave specific examples.
Per year, within the state of California alone, there are roughly between 250,000 - 300,000 seriously disabled injured workers who end up on Medicare, Social Security, Medi-cal, General assistance, state disability and Medicaid which is funded by American tax dollars instead of negligent employers and their third party administrative insurance carriers paying for those injuries.
Dina Padilla also shared her concerns with companies bringing in unknown microorganisms into the United States illegally.
Dina Padilla and April Gottman were told by Lundgren’s staff that they were going to contact the Department of Justice, the Government Accountability Office,the OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL and Social Security-Medicare. Dina Padilla was told at that time she would be contacted by Lundgren's office on or about January 7th of 2008. To date she has heard nothing.
In late 2008, Congressman Dan Lungren, upon holding a public town-hall meeting over the telephone had called Ms. Trend, mother of David Bell. When it was her turn to speak she addressed the Congressman as to why hadn't he nor any of his office gotten back to either Doug Haney, Dina Padilla, April Gottman and herself. She also questioned him on what had been discussed during his staff's meeting with Doug Haney, Dina Padilla and April Gottman and referenced "cost shifting" by the insurance industry to Federal and state agencies for injured workers.
While other participants were allowed an open connection over the telephone with Congressman Lungren during this public town-hall meeting over the telephone, Ms. Trend was not allowed to openly discuss the issues she had presented him. Congressman Lungren disconnected her and proceeded to answer with "he didn't see a problem" to her concerns and issues.
