At Tuesday's House Ways and Means Committee hearing, new legislation aimed at resolving the estimated $60 billion of annual Medicare fraud was introduced by Rep. Ron Klein (D-Fla.) and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.). The Medicare Fraud Enforcement and Prevention Act would double criminal penalties to a maximum ten year prison sentence and up to $50,000 in fines.
“Criminals have decided that building a Medicare fraud scam is far safer than dealing in crack or dealing in stolen cars, and it’s far more lucrative,” said Lewis Morris, Chief Counsel to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). “Right now, it’s a good bet that you can take millions from us, and chances are, you’re not going to get caught.”
Klein criticized the “pay-and-chase” philosophy currently in place that gives room for criminals to succeed in obtaining money before law enforcement officials can make an arrest.
“One of the biggest flaws in our system is the unnecessary periods of time in which a potentially fraudulent claim is submitted, and when the proper law enforcement agency is alerted,” the Florida Democrat said.
If passed, Klein said new technology will be created and used to implement more strict pre-screening policies and a program using biometric measures will be piloted to “ensure that Medicare beneficiaries are physically present to receive services.”
“Our Medicare Fraud Enforcement and Prevention Act will provide badly needed reform to the Medicare system,” said Ros-Lehtinen. "We will soon restore our seniors' peace of mind and trust."
Bipartisan Legislation Aimed At Ending Medicare Fraud
At Tuesday's House Ways and Means Committee hearing, new legislation aimed at resolving the estimated $60 billion of annual Medicare fraud was introduced by Rep. Ron Klein (D-Fla.) and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.). The Medicare Fraud Enforcement and Prevention Act would double criminal penalties to a maximum ten year prison sentence and up to $50,000 in fines.
“Criminals have decided that building a Medicare fraud scam is far safer than dealing in crack or dealing in stolen cars, and it’s far more lucrative,” said Lewis Morris, Chief Counsel to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). “Right now, it’s a good bet that you can take millions from us, and chances are, you’re not going to get caught.”
Klein criticized the “pay-and-chase” philosophy currently in place that gives room for criminals to succeed in obtaining money before law enforcement officials can make an arrest.
“One of the biggest flaws in our system is the unnecessary periods of time in which a potentially fraudulent claim is submitted, and when the proper law enforcement agency is alerted,” the Florida Democrat said.
If passed, Klein said new technology will be created and used to implement more strict pre-screening policies and a program using biometric measures will be piloted to “ensure that Medicare beneficiaries are physically present to receive services.”
“Our Medicare Fraud Enforcement and Prevention Act will provide badly needed reform to the Medicare system,” said Ros-Lehtinen. "We will soon restore our seniors' peace of mind and trust."