“Right Jab And Middle Jab And Left Jabâ€Â was created because we have a couple of commenters that post on a daily basis either in our “IS IT TRUE†or “Readers Forumâ€Â columns concerning National or International issues.
 Daily ScripturesÂ
MONDAYÂ
“How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded.†2 John 1:4Â
TUESDAYÂ
“I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning.†2 John 1:5 NLTÂ
WEDNESDAYÂ
“Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.†2 John 1:6 NLTÂ
THURSDAYÂ
“I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist.†2 John 1:7 NLTÂ
FRIDAYÂ
“Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward.†2 John 1:8 NLTÂ
SATURDAYÂ
“Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son.†2 John 1:9 NLTÂ
SUNDAYÂ
“If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement. Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work.†2 John 1:10-11 NLTÂ
Submitted to the City-County Observer by Karen SeltzerÂ
Indiana Alcohol & Tobacco Commission Announces DST Service Hours
The Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission announced that it will allow the sale of alcoholic beverages on Sunday, November 1, 2020, to continue until 3:00 a.m.
Because daylight saving time changes clocks to 1:00 a.m. at 2:00 a.m. on November 1, alcoholic beverage outlets will have one additional hour during which they may serve or sell alcoholic beverages on this date. Pursuant to Indiana law, they must cease sales at 3:00 a.m.
AG Curtis Hill settles with company that gave physicians kickbacks, overbilled Medicaid
Attorney General Curtis Hill announced today that Indiana has joined the federal government and 44 other states to settle allegations against Progenity, a San Diego-based biotechnology company that provides molecular and diagnostic tests to patients through health care providers.
The $49 million settlement will resolve allegations that Progenity fraudulently billed federal health care programs for prenatal tests and provided kickbacks to physicians to induce them to order Progenity tests for their patients. The settlement also resolves allegations that Progenity provided illegal kickbacks by:
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Providing excessive “draw fees†that exceeded fair market value for blood specimens collected for Progenity tests;
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Providing meals and happy hours for physicians and their staff that often involved little or no educational content; and
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Improperly reducing or waiving patient coinsurance and deductible payments.
In the settlement agreement, Progenity makes extensive admissions regarding the company’s conduct with respect to both the fraudulent billing and kickback claims.
“When companies that work this closely with physicians behave improperly, it undermines the integrity of our health care system,†Attorney General Hill said. “The effects of Progenity’s actions trickled down to patients who saw doctors influenced by kickbacks and bribes. This settlement is a fitting end to this company’s unfortunate series of decisions.â€
Under the settlement, Progenity will pay the states and the federal government $49 million for claims pertaining to various federal healthcare programs. More than $29 million of that money resolves claims relating to Medicaid, and $191,296.58 of the settlement resolves claims relating specifically to Indiana’s Medicaid program.
The settlement comes after a private whistleblower lawsuit that had previously been filed under seal in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York under the Federal False Claims Act.
The settlement agreement is attached.
The Indiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit receives 75% of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a federal grant. The remaining 25% is funded by the State of Indiana.
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HEALTH DEPARTMENT UPDATES STATEWIDE COVID-19 CASE COUNTS
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Former Otter Sagara named co-pitching coach for the Texas Rangers
Former Evansville Otters pitcher and pitching coach Brendan Sagara has been named as a co-pitching coach for the Texas Rangers at the Major League level.
 Sagara played for the Otters in 1999, appearing in four games while accumulating a 1.69 ERA. In his 5 1/3 innings on the mound, he struck out four batters, allowed eight hits and surrendered one earned run.
 The Wahiawa, Hawaii native later served as Evansville’s pitching coach in 2008 under manager Jason Verdugo and also served as acting manager briefly during that same season when Verdugo was ill.
 Under his leadership in 2008, the Otters pitching staff finished with a 4.78 team ERA with 661 strikeouts and 355 walks. Evansville native Adam Rogers started 20 games for the Otters that season, finishing 8-7 with a 4.19 ERA.
 “I really enjoyed my time there as a player,” Sagara said. “I have always maintained a strong affinity for the city and its people. Evansville is truly one of the special places in professional baseball.”
 Sagara was scheduled to be the pitching coach for the Nashville Sounds in 2020 before the MiLB season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He ended up coaching at the Rangers’ alternate training site this year.
In 2018, Sagara was named the minor league pitching coordinator for the Chicago Cubs organization. He also worked in player development with the Miami Marlins organization before that.
 He was also an associate scout for the New York Mets from 2006-09 and a part-time scout for the Atlanta Braves from 2010-11. He was the pitching coach for five other Frontier League teams including; Dubois County (2001-02), Kenosha (2003), Springfield/Ozark (2004), Windy City (2007) and Southern Illinois (2009).
 “I’m very excited about the promotion (with the Rangers),” Sagara said. “I would not be where I am now without the Frontier League.”
The Evansville Otters are the 2006 and 2016 Frontier League champions.
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COVID-19 testing at CK Newsome extended through November
The Reopen Evansville Task Force announced another extension of COVID-19 testing at C.K. Newsome Center.
Testing at the site — which is administered by OptumServe — will be extended through November, and is available for those that live and work in the Evansville region.
Operations will continue Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Registration is required. Those needing a test can register at lhi.care/covidtesting or call 888-634-1116.
Testing is free to all and no medical insurance is necessary. However, residents with existing insurance are asked to provide that information during the scheduling process.
The site was made possible through a collaboration between Mayor Lloyd Winnecke, the Vanderburgh County Health Department and the Indiana State Department of Health.
Gov. Holcomb to Provide Updates in the Fight Against COVID-19
Gov. Eric J. Holcomb and state leaders will host a virtual media briefing to provide updates on COVID-19 and its impact on Indiana.
WHO:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Gov. Holcomb
State Health Commissioner Kristina Box, M.D., FACOG
Indiana National Guard Adjutant General, Brig. Gen. Dale Lyles
WHEN:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2:30 p.m. ET, Wednesday, October 28