Need for targeted Medicare program integrity reform emphasized

WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 23, 2013—On behalf of the Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare—a coalition of home health care agencies dedicated to developing innovative reforms to improve the program integrity, quality, and efficiency of home health care for our nation’s seniors—Chairman Billy Tauzin (R-LA) and Senator John Breaux (D-LA) made the following statement.

“Last week’s indictment in Detroit is further evidence that immediate action is needed to increase national efforts to target and catch criminals who are stealing billions of taxpayer dollars and victimizing America’s seniors. The prosecution of criminals involved in fraudulent activity is critical to protecting the Medicare program, however more must be done to stop Medicare fraud and abuse before it begins.

“Federal data can be used to identify exactly where health care fraud is taking place, therefore targeted reforms should be put in place that prevent criminals from entering the Medicare program, billing the government for false claims and taking advantage of vulnerable beneficiaries.

“The home health community has been leading efforts to advance reform proposals that specifically target fraud and abuse by ensuring that Medicare dollars never reach criminal hands. The ‘Skilled Home Healthcare Integrity and Program Savings’ (SHHIPS) proposal includes provisions that would prevent overpayments before they happen by enforcing stricter entry rules and program safeguards to ensure less wasteful spending and criminal activity in the system.

“The Partnership applauds the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for bringing criminals to justice and looks forward to working with lawmakers to advance policy solutions to stop Medicare fraud before it ever is allowed to occur.

“Through targeted reform, we can secure seniors’ access to clinically advanced, cost effective, patient preferred home health care—and stop the bad actors who are preying on current weaknesses in the Medicare program.”

The Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare was established in 2010 to assist government officials in ensuring access to quality home health services for all Americans. Representing more than 1,500 skilled home healthcare agencies nationwide, the Partnership is dedicated to developing innovative reforms to improve the quality, efficiency and integrity of home healthcare for seniors and disabled Americans. To learn more, visit www.homehealth4america.org. Click here for more information on the indictment.