[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 55 (Monday, May 8, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H2619]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         LET US WORK TO KEEP FRAUD OUT OF THE MEDICARE PROGRAM

  (Mr. BALLENGER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, there are few things more important than 
taking care of our Nation's seniors. That means keeping the Medicare 
program healthy and solvent for the 39 million older Americans who 
depend on it.
  Unfortunately, our efforts to improve Medicare will not work if we do 
not eliminate the waste and abuse that festers in the current programs. 
In FY 1998, Medicare's fee-for-service program made $12.6 billion in 
improper payments. Part of the reason this waste, fraud, and abuse 
occurred was that the Clinton-Gore administration was careless in 
monitoring and oversight of Medicare payments. This neglect has created 
a troughful of Medicare money, and crooks are glad to have it, to eat 
to their fill.
  For example, a New York medical equipment company robbed Medicare of 
more than $6 million. A Florida home health agency fraudulently billed 
Medicare for $2.2 million.
  Let us keep our seniors healthy. Let us work to keep fraud out of the 
Medicare program.

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