Home Healthcare Leaders: Medicaid Reforms Needed to Prevent Fraud and Protect Taxpayers

WASHINGTON, DC — Following Wednesday’s hearing Is Government Adequately Protecting Taxpayers from Medicaid Fraud?, the Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare praised the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for calling attention to the impact Medicaid fraud is having on beneficiaries and taxpayers alike.

The home healthcare community supports tough measures that target and prevent fraud and abuse. In order to strengthen program integrity, home healthcare leaders have developed reform proposals that would prevent payment of aberrant claims and enhance conditions of participation and claims validation processes. Policy solutions that target fraud and abuse can strengthen state Medicaid programs to more effectively ensure that valuable taxpayer dollars are not falling into the hands of fraudulent individuals.

“Medicaid fraud that could amount to billions of dollars per year is a serious problem that must be remedied,” said Senator John Breaux, senior counsel to the Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare. “Wednesday’s hearing underscores the fact that we must do more to protect America’s 50 million Medicaid beneficiaries and the taxpayers who fund this essential healthcare benefit.”

Home healthcare plays a vital role in delivering clinically advanced healthcare services to Medicaid patients requiring treatment for illnesses related to acute, chronic or rehabilitative needs. Highly trained healthcare professionals and clinicians are helping patients effectively manage chronic diseases with care that was once only available in more costly settings. Home healthcare services today include cardiac and pulmonary care, physical therapy and rehabilitation, wound care, intravenous (IV) therapies and a myriad of other advanced care services, which are distinctly different from personal care services incorrectly associated with skilled home healthcare.

“Medicaid fraud and abuse must not be tolerated,” added Breaux. “Solutions are urgently needed to ensure we are taking all possible steps to protect beneficiaries and taxpayers alike, which means fighting Medicaid fraud with tough reforms like those crafted by the home healthcare community.”