President Obama Will Try to Build Support for Health Care Reform through New Effort to Combat Medicare/Medicaid Fraud
EmailIn an effort to build support for Democratic health care reform legislation, President Obama will announce support later today for efforts to crack down on fraud in Medicare and Medicaid, among other government programs, one of the few areas of bipartisan consensus during last month’s health care reform summit.
Though the legislation has so far garnered next to no support from GOP lawmakers, the president is eager to depict the Democratic legislation as including the best ideas from both major parties. The bill includes Republican amendments and ideas, though not enough, Republicans say, to earn their support.
White House officials say in 2009 more than $54 billion in improper payments were made through Medicare and Medicaid.
In St. Charles, Missouri, later today, the president will announce that he has signed a presidential memorandum to direct federal agencies and departments to expand their use of “payment recapture audits,” which give private auditors financial incentives to find improper payments. Expanding the use of these audits, White House officials say, could restore $2 billion taxpayer dollars over the course of three years.
But right now the use of reclaimed funds for payment recapture audits is only possible for some government programs – through the Medicare Fee for Service program and for government contracts that enjoy more than $500 million in contracts. So the president will also announce support for legislation to expand the use of such audits. The Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act was introduced by Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., and has been cosponsored by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., Tom Coburn, R-Okla., Susan Collins, R-Maine, Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.
-jpt
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Gee, I thought the “time for talk is over”. Apparently for only one side, huh?
I hope the DNC is paying for all of this partisan political barnstorming on AF #1.
Posted by: Dell | March 10, 2010, 8:33 am 8:33 am
Say, Barry. Why don’t you demonstrate some executive competence for once, and go ahead and root out the fraud and abuse? When you’ve done that, you can come back and tell me why my little health care policy doesn’t measure up and you need to run that as well.
Posted by: mesquito | March 10, 2010, 8:45 am 8:45 am
“”"”"”White House officials say in 2009 more than $54 billion in improper payments were made through Medicare and Medicaid. “”"”"”"
So we know this yet we have no idea where the fraud is? Do we not have any existing organization in medicare to actually police it? Geez.
Posted by: lfrichar | March 10, 2010, 8:54 am 8:54 am
So it is known that 54 billion was payed out(every year?) but that no legislation in place to prevent it? If a Health Care Reform bill is passed is going to take 45yrs (Medicare 7-30-1965)to pass legislation to recover the “trilions” of wasted and abused funds comming down the road…..
Posted by: J.R. | March 10, 2010, 9:13 am 9:13 am
Perhaps a tickle fight is in order…
Posted by: Salim | March 10, 2010, 9:15 am 9:15 am
“In an effort to build support for Democratic health care reform legislation, President Obama will announce support later today for efforts to crack down on fraud in Medicare and Medicaid, among other government programs” – ABC News
Gee, he should have been trying to eliminate the fraud from day one.
Is this only important to the Prez so that he can get his really louzy bill passed?
Here’s an idea for ya NoBo.
Actually talk with, not to, Republicans.
Come up with a separate bipartisan bill that only deals with getting rid of the Medicare and Medicaid fraud.
Pass that so you can say you got something done on Health Care Reform.
Once you have built a little good will then you can apply the same process and come up with a decent comprehensive Health Care Reform Bill.
Reminder: Health Care Reform without Medical Malpractice Reform is a
Waste-o-Time™.
Make that the center piece of the new effort to control Health Care Costs.
No Charge for the valuable advice sir.
Posted by: Noz | March 10, 2010, 9:29 am 9:29 am
Ifrichar, be reasonable. When does the government ever know what is going on. They pass legislation and make laws but have no idea what is going on. They listen to the LARGE CONTRIBUTORS and act on their behalf. Medicare if properly setup will work just fine. They would have to make it abide by the laws already in place for private insurance and not have congress able to take money from it. Go back a few decades, Social Security was setup to handle retirees. They had their own fund that was large and did not get tax money only what tax payers contributed. The Congress saw that LARGE GOLD MINE THEY HAD TO SPEND AND PUT IT IN THE GENERAL FUND. The results are apparent, they have had to extend the retirement age, it is broke and during election that is one of their promises “I WILL WORK ON FIXING SOCIAL SECURITY”. Today Congress and Obama are trying to pass a healthcare program. Everyone will have to pay private insurance rates, if you can’t pay the government will pay your rate from taxpayer money and they will eliminate Medicare. Let’s see, Congress and the President will not be in this program, they have their own pension and free medical care taxpayers pay for, Medicare members who now pay $100.00 a month taken automatically out of their SS payment, will have to pay much higher prices while only getting avg. $1,000.00 a month. It appears Congress is also removing RETIRED MILITARY medical care. These are the people who have always put their life on the line so we can be free to argue this way. The estimated cost of the HEALTHCARE PROGRAM 1 TRILLION DOLLARS OVER 10 YEARS. Taxpayers can foot the bill. This also included people who come into this Country and live off the government illegally. Why don’t they just fix what is in place? They can’t get large donations from large corp. and the large insurance corps will lose money. ONCE AGAIN THE SUPREME COURT RULING. What do you think?
Posted by: Gandar | March 10, 2010, 9:30 am 9:30 am
While he’s at it maybe BHO can get rid of the fraud/waste in the Stimulus Bill.
Millions out of work and money is wasted on monkey drug addicts in NC.
And the stimulus is creating jobs in China.
Something is very very wrong with our government.
Posted by: cassie | March 10, 2010, 9:31 am 9:31 am
More lip service from the traveling flimflam man.
Obama is desperate to pull those poll numbers up isn’t he?
I thought the time for talk is over?
Posted by: ollie | March 10, 2010, 9:34 am 9:34 am
Stop wasting taxpayer money flying all over to sell that crappy HC bill.
If it’s so great why not vote now.
Stop creating villains and blaming the HC Industry and Republicans.
It’s Obama’s own party holding up the bill.
Maybe bigger bribes will help.
Posted by: larry | March 10, 2010, 9:39 am 9:39 am
Why did Obama wait 14 months to do something about M/M fraud?
Posted by: fran | March 10, 2010, 9:41 am 9:41 am
“White House officials say in 2009 more than $54 billion in improper payments were made through Medicare and Medicaid. ”
.
So this White House stands idly by while $54 billion is stolen through fraud and abuse? This should be fixed immediately before you even dare to try and convince us that you have the competence to handle something that makes up 1/6 of the US economy.
.
And why the sudden attack of bipartisan fever…if oBama had his way this garbage would have been passed last August… all without these “suggested” changes he says he is suddenly interested in.
.
Watch what the liar does and not what he says.
Posted by: gk | March 10, 2010, 9:47 am 9:47 am
NOZ, your point on MALPRACTICE is valid. That is the main contributor to losing doctors. A few years ago I spoke with one doctor with his own office, $180,000.00 a year for the insurance. Now what will that do to the price of an office visit? Once again I say fix Medicare, take it out of the control of Congress. Under the law private insurance works there has to be a fund that can support the claims submitted, this fund is also invested partially by financial advisors and is run by a third party administrator. When set up (the first year or two will be difficult) properly it will no longer need tax payers money to support it. IMAGINE THAT A GOVERNMENT PROGRAM WHICH DOES NOT USE TAX MONEY. Social Security run the same way will result in the same savings. IMAGINE INSTEAD OF SPENDING 1 TRILLION DOLLARS CONGRESS CAN SAVE MONEY. Wash out my mouth with soap. That is a terrible thing to do. The idea must make congress, president and big contributors have nightmares. I am not saying it is easy but it can be done.
Posted by: Gandar | March 10, 2010, 9:49 am 9:49 am
One thing I did forget. Per government stats there are 57 million retirees, they pay over $100.00 a month, automatically deducted from their check, this does not include others on SS paying for Medicare. That makes over 5.7 billion dollars a month going to Congress now. Any idea where this money goes? Are you sure it goes to supporting Medicare or does it get side tracked somewhere else?
Posted by: Gandar | March 10, 2010, 9:53 am 9:53 am
How much did that rent0mob cost taxpayer’s yesterday?
Obama tells people to get out and sell health care–and like magic buses of SEIU members show up to protest health insurers.
Obama has guaranteed millions of new customers for health insurers.
Something stinks.
Posted by: millie | March 10, 2010, 9:54 am 9:54 am
White House officials say in 2009 more than $54 billion in improper payments were made through Medicare and Medicaid.
In St. Charles, Missouri, later today, the president will announce that he has signed a presidential memorandum to direct federal agencies and departments to expand their use of “payment recapture audits,” which give private auditors financial incentives to find improper payments. Expanding the use of these audits, White House officials say, could restore $2 billion taxpayer dollars over the course of three years.
********
54 billion a year in improper payments, and WH officials say they may restore 2 billion over the course of 3 years? Where will the other 156 billion go?
Posted by: wheresmymoney | March 10, 2010, 9:59 am 9:59 am
The thing that stinks is government, local,state and federal, all go on a budget and if you don’t spend your budget it is taken away. So at the end of year there is a spending frenzy. Everyone buys things they don’t need. What happens taxes go up. What do the politicians say? The cost of government has gone up. Seems to me it is a waste of taxpayer dollars. Why don’t they have a fund that holds money not spent, the budget stays the same, managers who stay within budget get raises, managers who go over without real cause lose the job, the fund is available only to those who put money into it if there is a large amount to spend and don’t buy new equipment if the old is working without expensive repairs. All government can’t do this they can’t raise taxes then. How can they give large bonus’, contracts to friends if they don’t keep raising taxes?
Posted by: Dan | March 10, 2010, 10:09 am 10:09 am
The government has proven its incompetence in running healthcare already, in the form of Medicaid and Medicare. Fix or eliminate Medicare first, then get back to me on whether I want you to take over MY healthcare, Mr. Obama.
Posted by: ferd | March 10, 2010, 10:23 am 10:23 am
Jobs? who cares about jobs? I want my healthcare, and i want it now.. I don’t care that the people don’t want it
Obama VS America
Posted by: another crisis-another photo op | March 10, 2010, 10:26 am 10:26 am
RASMUSSEN:
Obama Approval Index: -21 (matches lowest yet)
Strongly Approve 22% (matches lowest yet)
Strongly Disapprove 43%
Total Approval 43% (matches lowest yet)
Obama VS America
Posted by: another crisis-another photo op | March 10, 2010, 10:28 am 10:28 am
Nancy Pelosi yesterday:
“Pass healthcare so we know what in it’
Obama VS America
Posted by: another crisis-another photo op | March 10, 2010, 10:29 am 10:29 am
Can anyone tell me how the healthcare is going to be paid for by the people who have to buy it whether or not they want it when they don’t have a job. Congress put out hundreds of billions of dollars to large corp to save them but nothing but promises to those who have to foot the bill. Someone in congress better get their head on straight. They want to get their under the table funds for themselves but the people paying for it don’t have a job. The get unemployment which comes from the taxes that are drying up and some states are even trying to stop those payments. Any one else see the downward plunge economics is taking. Raise taxes, remove jobs, make people spend money on something that does not pay bill or bring in food and have politicians tell them they are helping?????
Posted by: Dan | March 10, 2010, 10:44 am 10:44 am
Why do they keep insisting the American people are just “stupid” and dont know whats good for them.POTUS thinks that if he just goes out and campaigns more to a fixed hand picked audience…THEN we will get it and understand the bloated bill. Its condescending and the American people arent stupid no matter how much you fly around and yap away!
Posted by: shawn | March 10, 2010, 10:47 am 10:47 am
It is a shame that the administration focuses on waste and abuse while touting a bill that will encourage more of the same.
Posted by: reuelsample | March 10, 2010, 11:41 am 11:41 am
why doesn’t Obama allow his kommisars to pay INDIVIDUAL patients if they “whistleblow” fraud in Medicare/Medicade? It would encourage people to check all that paperwork you receive.
Also why does Obama allow civil, and criminal, penalties for anyone who accesses, uses, or views the healthrecords without the patient’s express written consent. This should apply to the Orwellian centralized healthcare database that Obama wants to create and give to political appointed “Czars”. Any use (for political blackmail, tabloids, criminal investigations, blackmail, etc) should be punished civilly and criminally. Patients should also be able to “opt out” of his Orwellian control-freak database.
Posted by: Ed | March 10, 2010, 12:32 pm 12:32 pm
Posted by: another crisis-another photo op | Mar 10, 2010 10:28:06 AM
The President’s approval rating is right in around 50% where its been for several months now. Your attempts to frame it differently really only show your Republican right bias.
Posted by: tierra | March 10, 2010, 12:48 pm 12:48 pm
In an effort to build support for Democratic health care reform legislation, President Obama will announce support later today for efforts to crack down on fraud in Medicare and Medicaid, among other government programs, one of the few areas of bipartisan consensus during last month’s health care reform summit.
I cannot believe that the President is
that Dense!
The American People want Healthcare
reform but they don’t want the
Democrat(Senate)Bill!
Start over this time with Republican
input from the gitgo and get it done.
What’s this our bill or nothing rush
all about?
Considering the Fact that under the
Senate Bill benefits cannot be
obtained until 2013 I don’t get it.
If President Obama and the Dems are
in a rush to impose new taxes on the
Middle Class and others than I
understand! That’s what Democrats do!
Raise taxes and spend money like
drunken sailors. Cut the crap.
Start over.
Posted by: reaganfan | March 10, 2010, 1:34 pm 1:34 pm
That’s what Democrats do!
Raise taxes and spend money like
drunken sailors.
____________________________________
What taxes have been raised? The Obama administration has implemented tax relief.
As far as spending like drunken sailors, how do you think the Bush administration doubled the national debt?
Unfortunate the Bush Republican administration also presided over the largest economic collapse in America since the Great Depression. Any idea of what that did to local, state and federal budgets? Apparently not . …
Posted by: tierra | March 10, 2010, 1:53 pm 1:53 pm
Republican solution: 1. Elect over-privileged white frat boys give the wealthy more tax breaks. 2. Start a couple more wars. 3. Go back to points 1 and 2.
Posted by: Bryan Miller | March 10, 2010, 2:17 pm 2:17 pm
Why are we not using Medicare? Open it to all citizens and adjust the premium according to the income of the individual. Set it up to run according to the laws private insurance companies have to abide by. This would include an initial fund (much less than the 1 trillion dollars now estimated to run the program congress wants) that will be partially invested by a financial adviser, the funds now taken out for Medicare will be deposited in the fund, a third party administrator and use present day Medicare personal to enter claims and no Congressional control other than standard reports and oversight. Once the program is up and running tax dollars would no longer be needed. Per government stats there are 57 million retired people. Now these people contribute $100.00 a month. That means this is a 5.7 billion dollar monthly income the Medicare fund. The deductions of everyone’s paycheck will go into this fund. This does not include Social Security disabled. That is not a small number and increases the funds going into the pool/fund. Put past and present Congress members in this, not their own free medical they now get that is paid out of your taxes. Money saved again.
Posted by: Dan | March 10, 2010, 2:33 pm 2:33 pm
I see a large problem with using Medicare the right way. Congress will not be able to spend the money the way they want. All that money going to waste just paying medical bills for the US citizens the way it is designated, if that happened DC would have to have all their ambulances going to congress. A lot of vapor locks would happen.
Posted by: Dan | March 10, 2010, 2:39 pm 2:39 pm
Hey, this President’s all about redistribution of wealth — I say all the movie stars, rock stars (thinking about Sean Penn, Matt Damon and George Clooney) and well, anyone else who has millions (like Virginia Senator Mark Warner) donate to a “health insurance fund” to insure those without health insurance. That should give this Administration plenty of time to crack down on Medicare and Medicaid fraud.
Posted by: EATB | March 10, 2010, 3:40 pm 3:40 pm
The “PASS IT NOW, AND WE’LL FIX IT LATER” crowd/politicians sound a lot like the management team at Toyota in regards to the “speed-up, then try to slam on the brakes, then crash, burn and die” folks managing the PRIUS et al issues.
Posted by: JMo | March 10, 2010, 3:53 pm 3:53 pm
Have you ever noticed that the GOP (and there supporters) never actually explain what it is they don’t like with the Democrat plan? Where’s the GOP plan? What are the key differences that justify doing nothing and letting the insurance companies to continue to game the system??? Now that a public option isn’t included in the bill, the GOP has almost nothing to point to as objectionable. They rely on empty statements and generalities and hope that the same mass of Americans who were dense enough to be frightened into re-electing GWB in 2004 will fall in lock-step. Sadly, it’s a fairly reliable outcome. I hope the Democrats can break through the misinformation this time.
Posted by: cannotwait2008 | March 10, 2010, 3:53 pm 3:53 pm
tierra said:As far as spending like drunken sailors, how do you think the Bush administration doubled the national debt?
Unfortunate the Bush Republican administration also presided over the largest economic collapse in America since the Great Depression. Any idea of what that did to local, state and federal budgets? Apparently not . …
Tierra are you aware of the fact that
the Congress controls the Budget
Process?
The President presents his budget to the
Congress and they add lots of “pork”
and pass it and send it back to the
President for signing.
Everyone knows that the Democrats have
had control of Congress since the
2006 elections and they presided over
the economic collapse.
I guess you didn’t know that
Rep Barney Frank(Dem) and Senator
Chris Dodd(Dem)were in charge of
oversight regarding Fannie Mae and
Freddie Mac.
Their incompetence led to the
Collapse of the Housing Market which
in turn led to the greatest economic
downturn since “the Great Depression”.
Local and state budgets shouldn’t have
been relying so much on the Federal
Government!
They should have been running on
balanced budgets not constant Federal
bailouts!
Who needs state and local governments
if they are going to rely on the Feds
to pay their expenses?
We might as well get rid of the
local officals(mayors, governors)and
let Washington run everything!
At least we’ll save money by not
paying the Mayors, Governors and
their legislature’s salaries.
Posted by: reaganfan | March 10, 2010, 11:22 pm 11:22 pm
Yeah and the tooth fairy is going to dump a kool million under my pillow.
Posted by: Pedro | March 11, 2010, 6:09 am 6:09 am
Obama know this is the way of vote bank…
Posted by: Ilan Ben Menachem | March 18, 2010, 6:12 am 6:12 am