Community and Public Health in Your Community, Essay Example

David McSwane (2014), reports on the FBI’s ongoing investigation into the Medicaid Fraud contracts in Austin, Texas. A multi-million dollar deal was going to be brokered between Texas Health and Human Services Commission and 21CT, an Austin tech company. While there has been no official confirmation from the FBI, this investigation opens up questions with the HHSC, as well as issues that pertain to the community, fraudulent activity, the state contracting, the government involvement, and the taxpayers. The contracts between the entities involve several broken deals in which over $100 millions of dollars was to be given to the Medicaid and Medicare services for funding the systems, as well as integrating the new technologies. The problem however is the fraudulent activity in which many feel that are depriving more people of receiving the health services.

Kate Morris (2014), reports on the community impact of the shortage of water in Austin, and surrounding counties in central Austin. This article reports on the vast boom in Austin’s population, which has caused great concern for water availability in the part of Texas. The county officials are trying to consider more ways to not only fight the population boom, but also the preceding drought in the counties. One of the ideas is to implement a pipeline from an aquifer in Williamson County that will serve other counties. There are several conservation concerns in which do not want the aquifer to be damage by pumping large amounts of water. However, cities will soon need to be supplied with water, so plans need to be developed to find a solution.

Both of these articles deal with the concerns that affect the Austin community, as well as the entire state of Texas. The issue of Medicaid and Medicare services being involved in fraudulent activity that could deprived the millions signed up, as well as the millions of taxpayers that help to fund the programs. Any contracts, which could potentially affect the health of the people, is essential for the public to be aware. Additionally, the water and drought problems have been an ongoing problem in Central Texas. With the growing number of people moving to Austin, this causes more trouble for the surrounding communities and cities in which have been hit the hardest with drought. Finding innovative ways in which water could be delivered to these cities is a concern for the community at large.

References

McSwane, David J. (2014). FBI Is Investigating 21CT Medicaid Fraud Deal. Austin-American Statesman. Retrieved from http://www.statesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/sources-fbi-is-investigating-110m-21ct-medicaid-fr/njnxd/?ref=cbTopWidget

Morris, Kate. (2014). Water Demands Spur County Action. Community Impact Newspaper. Retrieved from http://impactnews.com/austin-metro/georgetown/water-demands-spur-county-action/