Beginning today, you can find my column in Saturday’s paper.
But don’t worry: a lot won’t change. You’ll still be able to rely on me for many of the same things I’ve been writing about for the last 17 years in this column. (Time flies!)
That includes updates on the latest scams, choices on natural gas and other ways to protect, save or spend your hard-earned money.
Also, I have compiled several columns on common questions, including how to block robocalls, how to check your credit report, top scams to avoid and how to choose your natural gas provider, at www.ohio.com/betty under “Betty’s Best Tips.”
I have information in today’s column on something new regarding IRS scams.
But I’m also going to expand my column subjects.
In addition to covering consumer and a few business issues, I report on our local health-care industry. (Our previous medical reporter, Amanda Garrett, is covering crime news).
Health care is probably one of the most important consumer choices we make.
But unlike something like natural gas, where I have been able to tell you that for some time, the Standard Choice Offer (SCO) through Dominion East Ohio has been the cheapest for heating your home, health-care choices are unique to the circumstances of the patient.
I’ll do my best to educate you on how to best navigate the health care system and take care of yourself and your loved ones.
My job is to empower you; to give you the knowledge you need to be stronger consumers.
I love it when I hear from readers about how a tip they may have read in a column helped them.
I’m also no stranger to health-care stories in my 22 years at the Beacon.
One of the most memorable was witnessing the birth at Akron General Hospital of rare mono mono twins Jenna and Jillian Thistlethwaite in 2014. The twins, who shared the same amniotic sac and placenta, were born holding hands when first presented to their parents by the Akron Children’s Hospital physicians who delivered them.
That beautiful act made the story go viral, and they quickly became international starlets.
Their birth was after mom, Sarah Thistlethwaite, spent 57 days on bed rest and monitoring at Akron General (before it became Cleveland Clinic Akron General).
The pregnancy was the rarest types of twinning with one of the highest risks for birth defects or death in up to 70 percent of pregnancies.
The girls were born healthy and I chronicled them for several stories. Today, they’re beautiful and healthy 3-year-olds.
Most recently, Garrett and I partnered on the coverage as Summa Health dealt with the abrupt changeover of its physician groups staffing its emergency rooms after last-minute negotiations fell through.
That led to upheaval, with more than 250 Summa doctors backing a no-confidence vote in then-President and CEO Thomas Malone and his leadership team. Malone eventually resigned and Dr. Cliff Deveny, an Akron native, returned to Summa as interim CEO.
In recent months, a national accreditation council suspended Summa’s Emergency Room residency doctor program, effective July 1. Summa is also on probation, prohibiting it from starting new residency programs or increasing the size of existing ones. Summa lost appeals and officials have said they are committed to regaining the ER residency program. The 21 affected residents are finding new programs. Akron General has permission to accept as many as 12.
I still have a lot to learn about the health-care industry. I look forward to doing that with you.
IRS scam calls
The intimidating calls that seem to come from the IRS demanding money are probably the biggest phone scam now.
I have been warning about this for quite some time, as have other advocates and news media. It’s not true. The IRS doesn’t make phone calls, you are randomly being called. You should just hang up and not engage with the caller, who is most likely calling you from a fake or spoofed phone number that can’t be traced.
But, while that’s all still true, the IRS recently announced that in cases where taxpayers have owed unpaid taxes for several years, their accounts have been sent to collection agencies, who are authorized to make collection calls.
So frankly, that muddies the waters, opening up an opportunity for scammers again.
The best advice is: Unless you know that you have a long unpaid debt to the IRS — and the IRS says you would have received letters from the IRS in the mail before the phone calls — the calls are likely NOT from the IRS and a scam.
“The people included in the private collection program typically already know they have a tax issue. If you get a call from someone saying they’re from one of these groups and you’ve paid your taxes, that’s a sure sign of a scam,” IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said in a news release.
Go to www.irs.gov/balancedue to check your account balance or call 800-829-1040.
Christy Page, president of the Better Business Bureau of Akron, said she’s worried that while the IRS is going after some old outstanding taxes, people who currently have unpaid debt not yet in collections may fall for a scam.
The BBB this week put out an alert about this.
“It’s a mixed message after so many years of saying the IRS doesn’t call,” Page said.
The BBB’s national Scam Tracker is still showing that the volume of reports about the IRS scam calls has decreased, but it’s still a big problem.
Another good tip that Page said, which can help you spot a scammer, is the payment to the IRS can only be made to the IRS or the U.S. Treasury. Do not let a scammer tell you that you should make a payment to a collection agency or through any type of money card.
Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her @blinfisherABJ on Twitter or www.facebook.com/BettyLinFisherABJ and see all her stories at www.ohio.com/betty