Obama using 'bounty hunters' to root out fraud

Associated Press ^ | March 9, 2010 | RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR

[Free ThinkerNY]

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama is sending in the bounty hunters to help root out health care fraud.

Keeping up the pressure in his final push to pass health care overhaul, Obama signed an executive order Tuesday that encourages private auditors to search out improper Medicare and Medicaid payments, from billing errors to outright thievery.

Equipped with special computer programs, the auditors would get a cut of whatever they recover for the government.

[exnavy]

“Bounty Hunters”, how much is this costing us.

[highlander_UW]

He's probably employing ACORN, the masters of fraud.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Equipped with special computer programs, the auditors would get a cut of whatever they recover for the government.

Government, Chicago Style.

[metmom]

You know, I don’t have a problem with going after Medicare and Medicaid fraud, but I’m not sure that this is the way to do it.

[goodnesswins]

How about they start in the White House....

[Kansas58]

There have been Federal programs to encourage us to rat out Medicaid and Medicare fraud, for a long time.
However, it is usually a family member, health care provider or insurance pro who discovers the problem.

I am not sure how to get around the privacy and HIPAA issues here.

[cripplecreek]

Something about this makes me uncomfortable.

[GonzoGOP]

[driftdiver]

They know where the fraud is. They get claims from every doctor and have the documentation. They just don’t do it.

Wellcare has an office in Tampa. They were raided a couple years ago by the FBI for $360 million in fraud. While the FBI was coming in the front door servers were being hauled out the back door.

They paid a $87 million dollar fine and all is forgiven. Soros and the Saudis are big investors in this company.

[TribalPrincess2U]

How about government fraud?

[GitmoSailor]

ACORN.........................

[qwertypie]

This has no hope of really saving anything or having any impact. It’s just another one of this thug’s bashing rhetorical tools. The more divisive he gets, the worse that his ratings will fall.

[digger48]

protection racket

The auditors will demand 60% of the take.

[YHAOS]

"the auditors would get a cut of whatever they recover for the government"

Which provides a powerful motive to lie.

[metmom]

Pity the poor guy who makes a mistake.

Deliberate fraud is one thing.

Going after clerical errors, which are bound to happen, in the same way is another.

I can just imagine the Gestapo tactics they’ll be using. If the IRS is any example of where unrestrained government power leads, I’d be pretty concerned if I were a doctor.

[GailA]

A fortune.

Defeat Obamacare call list: Courtsey of TN Eagle Forum: List now contains the new MAYBES culled from FR posts.

PLEASE CALL! DC OFFICE LOCAL OFFICE State District

Harry Mitchell (202) 225-2190 (480) 946-2411 AZ 5th District

Gabrielle Giffords (202) 225-2542 (520) 881-3588 AZ 8th District

Ann Kirkpatrick (202) 225-2315 (928) 226-6914 AZ 1st District

Jerry McNerney (202) 225-1947 925-833-0643 CA 11th District

John Salazar 202-225-4761 970-245-7107 CO 3rd District

Jim Himes (202) 225-5541 (866) 453-0028 CT 4th District

Alan Grayson (202) 225-2176 (407) 841-1757 FL 8th District

Bill Foster (202) 225-2976 630-406-1114 IL 14th District

Baron Hill 202 225 5315 812 288 3999 IN 9th District

Mark Schauer (202) 225-6276 (517) 780-9075 MI 7th District

Gary Peters (202) 225-5802 (248) 273-4227 MI 9th District

Dina Titus (202) 225-3252 702-256-DINA (3462) NV 3rd District

Carol Shea-Porter (202) 225-5456 (603) 743-4813 NH 1st District

Tim Bishop (202) 225-3826 (631) 696-6500 NY 1st District

John Hall (202) 225-5441 (845) 225-3641 x49371 NY 19th District

Bill Owens (202) 225-4611 (315) 782-3150 NY 23rd District

Mike Arcuri (202)225-3665 (315)793-8146 NY 24th District

Dan Maffei (202) 225-3701 (315) 423-5657 NY 25th District

Earl Pomeroy (202) 225-2611 (701) 224-0355 ND At-Large District

Steven Driehaus (202) 225-2216 (513) 684-2723 OH 1st District

Mary Jo Kilroy (202) 225-2015 (614) 294-2196 OH 15th District

Zach Space (202) 225-6265 (330) 364-4300 OH 18th District
Kathy Dahlkemper (202) 225-5406 (814) 456-2038 PA 3rd District

Patrick Murphy (202) 225-4276 (215) 826-1963 PA 8th District

Christopher Carney (202) 225-3731 (570) 585-9988 PA 10th District

Paul Kanjorski (202) 225-6511 (570) 825-2200 PA 11th District

John Spratt (202) 225-5501 (803)327-1114 SC 5th District

Tom Perriello (202) 225-4711 (276) 656-2291 VA 5th District

Alan Mollohan (202) 225-4172 (304) 623-4422 WVA 1st District

Nick Rahall (202) 225-3452 (304) 252-5000 WVA 3rd District

Steve Kagen (202) 225-5665 (920) 437-1954 WI 8th District

Bart Gordon (202) 225-4231 TN (MAYBE)

Bart Stupak (202) 225 4735 MI (MAYBE)

Brian Baird (202) 225-3536, Vancouver, (360) 695-6292. Olympia, (360) 352-9768, (MAYBE)

senator mark begich (202) 224-3004 toll free. (877) 501 - 6275 just became a MAYBE

John Tanner (202) 225-4714, Union City, (731) 885-7070, Jackson Phone: (731) 423-4848, Millington (901) 873-5690 TN (MAYBE)

Jason Altmire 202-225-2565, Aliquippa, 724-378-0928, Natrona Heights, 724-226-1304 (MAYBE)

On the Bubble (Major developments from the “yes” and “no” columns in the House)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2467046/posts

[ExTexasRedhead]

A better idea for the GOP: How about using law enforcement bounty hunters to find out who sealed and cleansed Zero’s life and who plotted this destruction to our country????

[Outlaw Woman]

This guy is a piece of work isn't he? WTH?

I received this in an email today: Great quote.

The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the presidency. It will be easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to an electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails us. Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The republic can survive a Barack Obama. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their president.” -- Author Unknown

[SmartInsight]

Obama wants to turn into a nation of snitches — I just read something about Obama encouraging people to snitch on their neighbors who may be (or may not be) cheating on their income tax.

In communist countries half the country was spying on the other half and everyone was afraid of everyone — this is where Obama is going.