Medicare fraud busters unveil command center

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Medicare fraud busters unveil command center
KELLI KENNEDY, Associated Press, RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR, Associated Press
Updated 02:26 a.m., Wednesday, August 1, 2012

BALTIMORE (AP) — Federal fraud busters invited the news media to visit their new $3.6 million command center and watch staffers explain how they'll jump on unfolding Medicare scams.

While the action on the tour Tuesday wasn't real, the problem is — more than $60 billion a year is lost to fraud. And two Republican senators immediately questioned whether the new multimillion-dollar facility is just throwing more money away.

Sens. Orrin Hatch of Utah and Tom Coburn of Oklahoma said the Obama administration isn't providing enough information about new computer systems being used to identify suspicious Medicare and Medicaid billings and as a result, no one can tell how well they're working. Computerized screening of claims is at the heart of the command center's mission.

~snip~

The two Republicans may have more than congressional oversight in mind. In an election year, Medicare fraud is an issue with older voters because it speaks to the Obama administration's stewardship of the program.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/article/Medicare-fraud-busters-unveil-command-center-3752458.php

[msongs]

1. so where is the command center for busting militarywelfare fraud? nt

[global1]

2. Two Repug Senators immediately Challenged Where....

they'll get campaign donations from if Obama closes down fraud based medical facilities that favor the Repugs that allow them to function for that very purpose. The Repugs don't like it when their money based loopholes are closed down.

[ashling]

3. How will they be able to launder their campaign cash?

As I recall, several of the multi Billion dollar medicaid and medicare scammers found here in Texas recently had donated billions to Repigs

[SkyDaddy7]

6. Isn't one of the biggest Medcare scammers now the...

Governor of Florida, Rick Scott? Or am I confusing him with someone else? If my memory is correct it had something to do with hospitals or medical facilities Rick Scott owned or was the CEO & they were ripping the taxpayer off for hundreds of millions of dollars?

I could be way off but I think I am at least close.

[SharonAnn]

10. You're right. And there are a lot of Medicare scams in Florida, with right-wing, Cuban connections.

In my home town, the ultra right-wing eye doctor was convicted of Medicare fraud over $1 million. That's an individual doctor!

[Betty Jo]

11. You Are Right

Rick Scott was CEO Columbia Hospital,which was part of HCA,Hospital Corporation of America.Under the name pf Hercules II LLC,Romney bacame one third owner of HCA hospitals,including those in England,which have a relationship to England's NHS.Romney did not tell us about that during the NHS show at the London Olympics, did he ?Romney pays taxes on his ownership of HCA hospitals on the tax returns he has made public.Google HCA, Hercules II LLC, England,Medicare Fraud, etc. It's all there.Romney does not want us to know that he makes millions of dollars from all over the world from various medical/healthcare entities,some of which are ciminally fraudulent.

[NBachers]

12. "Jeb's Cuban "exile" pal, Miguel Recarey,got away with the largest Medicare fraud in history."

From one of our prolific and informative DU posters. There's lots more about this.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4987161&mesg_id=4987621

[madokie]

4. Coburn is a doctor

And I'd bet his ass is getting mighty hot

[Mrs. Ted Nancy]

9. His top campaign contributors are health professionals

This is the rank of his top five political contributors (by industry)

1. Health Professionals
2. Oil & Gas
3. Leadership PACs
4. Pharmaceuticals/Health Products
5. Republican/Conservative

[link]http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/industries.php?type=C&cid=n00005601&newMem=N&cycle=2012[/link]

[Betty Jo]

5. Romney and Medicare Fraud

Googling Medicare Fraud Bain Romney HCA Hospitals is pretty interesting.I'll be back with some nitty gritty.

[Betty Jo]

7. ROMNEY AND BAIN PROFITTED FROM MASSIVE MEDICARE FRAUD

July 7,2012 Daily Kos

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/07/18/111[link:http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/07/18/111|

[Betty Jo]

8. sorry i goofed

Idon't know what I did wrong, but the story is there.

[siligut]

13. 3.6 mil to save 60 bil annually, gee, wonder if it is worth it.

And don't tell Orrin Hatch of all people how it works, he is the snake in the grass. Medicare fraud is a huge, complex problem, and not just in a monetary sense either. Once you have a provider making easy money through fraud, that provider may focus more on cash than care.