A Statement from the Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare

WASHINGTON, DC – On behalf of the Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare – a coalition of community- and hospital-based home healthcare agencies dedicated to developing innovative reforms to improve the program integrity, quality, and efficiency of home healthcare for our nation’s seniors – Chairman Billy Tauzin (R-LA) and Senator John Breaux (D-LA) made the following statement:

“Yesterday’s announcement that the Medicare Fraud Strike Force and Health Care Fraud Prevention & Enforcement Action Team successfully completed the coordinated takedown of 107 criminals allegedly responsible for $452 million in false Medicare billing is another striking reminder that targeted reforms to fight waste, fraud and abuse in the Medicare program are urgently needed.

“While yesterday’s raid was a victory for the federal government as well as honest beneficiaries and providers nationwide, more must be done to strengthen the Medicare program by ending the pay and chase system that allows fraudulent activities to occur.

“As long as criminals are allowed to perpetuate the Medicare system and victimize innocent seniors, we will continue to see valuable taxpayer dollars fall into the wrong hands. This must be stopped.

“Bold reforms that use government data to specifically target criminals like those captured yesterday are the solution America needs to stop these criminal acts once and for all. To do so, the home healthcare community has put forth proven, tough and targeted policy proposals to Congress to prevent fraud and abuse before it happens.

“We will continue to work with lawmakers in Congress to advance these targeted reforms for the benefit of America’s seniors, the Medicare program and the nation’s taxpayers.”