[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 160 (Tuesday, October 17, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H10081-H10082]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        MEDICARE FRAUD AND ABUSE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of May 
12, 1995, the gentlewoman from Connecticut [Ms. DeLauro] is recognized 
during morning business for 5 minutes.

[[Page H 10082]]

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, this week the House of Representatives will 
take up unprecedented cuts of $270 billion from Medicare which has been 
a lifeline for over 37 million seniors. During its 30 year legacy, 
Medicare has provided our elders with the security of health care 
coverage and has lifted millions of our seniors out of poverty. 
Medicare is a solemn contract between this Nation and our elders. It 
should not be tampered with lightly.
  Over the years, those of us genuinely concerned with strengthening 
the Medicare system have urged a crackdown on Medicare fraud. The 
Congressional Budget Office estimates that stopping the growing problem 
of fraud will reap billions of dollars in savings.
  But you don't need some policy-wonk's study to tell you that the 
system is rampant with waste, fraud, and abuse. Just visit one of our 
Nation's senior centers and sit down for a senior lunch and ask one of 
our senior citizens to show you their bills.
  However, the Republican bill we will take up later this week does not 
toughen enforcement. It does not even defend the status quo. Even 
worse, the Republicans turn back the clock on cracking down on Medicare 
fraud.
  Sadly, I am not surprised. As Speaker Gingrich said last week in this 
Washington Times article, in his feeble effort to defend GOP moves to 
reduce penalties and enforcement efforts against Medicare fraud: 
``murderers out after 3 years'' and rapists who don't even get tried.'' 
``For the moment, I'd rather lock up the murderers, the rapists and the 
drug dealers,'' he said. ``Once we start getting some vacant jail 
space, I'd be glad to look at it.''
  The Republican leadership is not interested in correcting and 
punishing the criminal elements in the Medicare system. Because that 
may hurt the special interest supporters in the medical industry.
  Their priority is to ensure that the special interest supporters in 
the medical industry are taken care of, with minimal losses in this 
debate on cutting Medicare.
  So, while the Speaker cuts a deal in a backroom with the American 
Medical Association to make sure that the interests of doctors are 
protected, while the health care cheats make a fast buck at the 
government's expense, seniors are being asked to pay more in out-of-
pocket costs and deductibles.
  My colleagues on the other side of the aisle have abandoned the most 
obvious of the potential savings in the Medicare program: Combating 
Medicare fraud and abuse. I introduced legislation this Congress, the 
Health Care Prosecution Act, to do just that. My bill stops health care 
cheats in their tracks, retrieves the financial losses in restitution 
and fines, and puts the criminals behind bars so that they are unable 
to promulgate more health care scams in the future.
  Further, my legislation establishes a temporary health care fraud and 
abuse commission to study the nature, and extent of fraud in our 
system. The commission would make recommendations to Congress on 
innovative approaches to attack fraud.
  Mr. Speaker, I think my bill is a good one but it is not the only 
effective way to crack down on fraud. There are lots of good ideas out 
there about how to rid our system of the scams that are ripping off our 
Nation's seniors and taxpayers.
  I am sorry that my Republican colleagues have chosen to pursue none 
of them.

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