Report: Medicare claims were paid in names of dead providers; related issues cost $1B in 2009
The report found 62 areas vulnerable to fraud during a 2009 investigation. The most common were related to billing and coding, such as paying a claim even though it had an incorrect code or a provider who billed for an excessive number of services. Another common issue included bills that used the identification numbers of dead providers.
My wife and I are on Medicare plus Tricare for Life. Yesterday we learned that they no longer copay for prescription cough medicine. ???
Medicare is going broke and yet they DECREASED my premiums by almost 10% for 2012......smart move. /s
Fraud is inevitable in any system. So the only question is how much fraud occurs.
Attempts to reduce fraud have consequences:
Administrative costs go up, both on the government side and on the provider side, in order to handle the additional procedures associated with fraud prevention. Such costs may in some cases exceed the fraud prevented.
Procedures become more complicated. Some percentage of those who need care will be unable to effectively handle the more complex procedures, and in any case additional time and delays are incurred.
Ok, let’s have the estimates of how much of that is recycled into campaign contributions (especially local politicians) and what the breakdown by party is...
Here in NJ we have guys like Steve Adubato (father and son), masters of government, non-profits and politics.
It’s easy to make money; just operate a non-profit that milks the government teat, pay yourself from it, get active in local politics, don’t be bashful about one hand washing the other and keep tight control over your merry little band. Be the doler-outer.
Deadicare........
Obama identifies colossal medicare fraud and waste
July 23, 2009 | Jim Robinson
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2299402/posts
“Humm, funny how the two biggest reasons for the health care mess, the trial layers and illegals are never mentioned by the President in his reform plans”
(mainerforglobalwarming)
“Medicare and Medicaid Made $70 Billion in ‘Improper Payments’ Last Year—More Than All Spending by Homeland Security and State Departments Combined”
http://cnsnews.com/news/article/medicare-and-medicaid-made-70-billion-improper-payments-last-year-more-all-spending
“Medicare Loses Nearly 4 Times as Much Money as Health Insurers Make”
http://www.patientpowernow.org/2009/10/medicare-medicaid-fraud-exceeds-insurance-company-profits/
Medicare Fraud ? at 60 billion....say it isn’t so.
Let’s put Government in charge of the US border...no, nevermind, that’s not working too good either.
Let’s FIRE some Feds on election day, 2012.
Why CAN’T ANYONE point out that ANY DAMN thing the Government is involved is unsuccessful, corrupt, inefficient, crooked and a waste of time money and resources?