Making the World Safe for Medicaid Fraud

Wall Street Journal ^ | October 2, 2009 | John Fund

[reaganaut1]

Americans expect to show a photo ID when they board a plane, enter many office buildings, cash a check or even rent a video -- but rarely in voting or applying for government benefits such as Medicaid. Many Democrats seem to view asking citizens for proof of identity as an invasion of privacy -- though what's really being protected is the right to commit identity fraud.

Exhibit A is Tuesday's 13 to 10 party-line vote in the Senate Finance Committee rejecting a proposal to require that immigrants prove their identity when signing up for federal health care programs. Chuck Grassley, the ranking Republican on the committee, said current procedures make it easy for illegal immigrants to use false or stolen identities to get benefits. But he ran into a buzz saw of opposition. Democratic Sen. Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico insisted such fraud was too rare to be worth worrying about: "The way I see the amendment, it's a solution without a problem."

Mr. Grassley admits to being "very perplexed as to why anyone would oppose this amendment." So does Senator Tom Coburn, one of the only two physicians in the Senate. He cites studies suggesting that fraud will cost Medicare and Medicaid about $100 billion this year. Harvard's Dr. Malcolm Sparrow, author of the book "License to Steal," estimates that the losses could easily be higher -- as much 20% or 30% of the trillion-plus dollars of spending represented by Medicaid and Medicare.

[HiTech RedNeck]

How can they pontificate on illegal immigrant fraud being rare for a system which doesn’t exist yet?

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

So...if 0bamacare comes to pass, can I just walk into any hospital or clinic and say I’m Rosa Juarez, illegalista? And they have to give me free medical care?

[Erik Latranyi]

Under the Dem plan, it will be beneficial if you renounce your citizenship and take one up from somewhere else!

[Sacajaweau]

But, but.....These people don't have healthcare but no one is turned down. So how is this Universal Health Care going to help since these people can't afford health insurance to start with?????

In other words, all the program does is "start a new kitty" to rob...just like SS, Medicare, Medicaid...

We already have at least 2 NEW programs we are paying for...The electronic "tracking" of Medical records in the stimulus package and the expansion of SCHIP.

Anything now is a 3rd program....Next year will be a 4th...then the 5th, then the 6th.....

And who do you think will pay for this....The only people who can....THE WORKING PEOPLE.....

[dirtboy]

So Obama says that much of the funding for the Dem health care proposals will come from eliminating waste and fraud - yet the Dems vote down a proposal that would combat waste and fraud.

Seems to me that shows who the real frauds are in DC.

[NotSoModerate]

The electronic "tracking" of Medical records

Think about this: an illegal steals your identity and gets healthcare. The illegal's medical records get mixed with yours. You're allergic to penicillin, but the illegal isn't so your electronic medical records show that you AREN'T allergic to it. You get really sick and the doctor gives you penicillin and you end up dying from an allergic reaction.

[GOPJ]

This is a country where the families of illegals - still living in the "old country" can fly in for hospital operations on the US taxpayers dime.

[browniexyz]

Wait a minute! Our doctor’s office just informed us of a “federal law” that requires us to present our driver’s license when we check in for appointments!! WHAT THE HECK???

[browniexyz]

I meant to also say — and we have PRIVATE insurance, NOT public—and WE are required to show our driver’s license????WHAT???

[buckalfa]

Beat me to it — but your physician misworded it slightly — HIPPA regs require a valid proof of identity so as to make sure correct existing medical records are used and to provide a baseline identity in releasing medical records to other providers. No where in the regs is the term drivers license used, but a license is the most readily available form of identification. Of course, most Health Care Reform bills pending call for a transferable electronic medical record which would replace many of the HIPPA provisions.

[Liz]

......studies suggest fraud will cost Medicare and Medicaid about $100B this year. Harvard's Dr. Malcolm Sparrow's book "License to Steal," estimates that the losses could easily be higher--as much 20%-30% of the trillion-plus dollars spent by Medicaid/Care......

No problem -----"tolerant and compassionate" Rahm Emanuel and his brother, Dr Zeke, are in charge of the Medicaid and Medicare trillions.

Ezekiel "End of Life" Emanuel, MD, PhD
Special Advisor for Health Policy
US Office of Management and Budget

"I'm a workaholic and an overachiever.
And I decide when to pull the plug on granny."

========================================

ObamaCare is looking like something designed by Dr Strangelove, replete with:

the compassion of the IRS,

the efficiency of the US Postal Service,

the budget-consciousness of a compulsive shopper with a platinum American Express card,

the profit-making potential of Bernie Madoff, and,

as law-abiding as an illegal alien.