[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 135 (Thursday, October 2, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1920]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         INTRODUCTION OF THE HEALTH CARE FRAUD PROSECUTION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 1, 1997

  Ms. DeLauro  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join with my colleagues, 
Representatives Frost, McGovern, Hinojosa, Schumer, Baldacci, Frank, 
Thurman, Manton, Olver, and Dellums to introduce the Health Care Fraud 
Prosecution Act today. This bill addresses one of the most serious 
problems facing our health care system--health care fraud.
  Members on both sides of the aisle have spent a lot of time this year 
trying to figure out how to stretch our health care dollars to make 
sure that Americans have access to the health care they need. If we 
want to succeed in our goal to reduce costs without sacrificing quality 
or limiting access, we need to set our sights on those who are cheating 
the system. Health care fraud consumes nearly 10 percent of our health 
care dollars, $40 to $90 billion, every year, stolen from our health 
care system through fraudulent billing.
  Medicare and Medicaid are particularly vulnerable to fraud. In one 
investigation by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of 
the Inspector General, 75.5 percent of Medicare claims filed by one 
hospital were found to be fraudulent--that's $25.9 million worth of bad 
claims from just one hospital.
  This is simply unacceptable. We cannot afford this drain on the 
health care system. Every dollar we spend on fraud leaves us one less 
dollar to care for a child's ear infection before it gets serious or to 
help provide rehabilitation for a senior with a broken hip so he or she 
can return home. We can and we must crack down on health care cheats.
  The Health Care Fraud Prosection Act will increase funding or FBI 
agents, Federal prosecutors, and other criminal investigators to 
investigate and prosecute health care fraud. It will create stringent 
penalties for those convicted of robbing our health care system. And it 
will require those convicted of health care fraud to make restitution 
payments to patients and Government agencies.
  Investing in law enforcement pays off. Right now, the Federal Bureau 
of Investigation returns $40 to the U.S. Treasury for every $1 it is 
given to investigate health care fraud. That's a return rate we can 
truly be proud of.
  We all know health care costs are too high. As we search for methods 
to preserve the access of seniors to quality health care, to extend the 
life of the Medicare trust fund, and to insure the 10 million American 
children who have no health care coverage, it is more important than 
ever to crack down on fraud and abuse in the system.
  This legislation will do just that. I urge my colleagues to support 
and pass the Health Care Fraud Prosecution Act.

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