[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 122 (Tuesday, September 17, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H5575]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           MEDICARE ORTHOTICS AND PROSTHETICS IMPROVEMENT ACT

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, when unlicensed and 
unaccredited providers are allowed to deliver prosthetic and orthotic 
services through Medicare, both Medicare beneficiaries and the American 
taxpayers are shortchanged.
  Unfortunately, the orthotics and prosthetics market currently is 
prone to fraud and abuse, where substandard products and services are 
being furnished to Medicare beneficiaries and other patients. Despite 
congressional mandates, not enough has been done to ensure that 
legitimate practitioners are providing these items and services.
  Moments ago, I, along with my colleague Mike Thompson of California, 
introduced the Medicare Orthotics and Prosthetics Improvement Act of 
2013. This commonsense piece of legislation will protect Medicare 
beneficiaries by identifying and addressing fraudulent payments, and it 
will hold government accountable by reducing fraud and abuse within 
Medicare.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to 
join us in this bipartisan effort by cosponsoring H.R. 3112, the 
Medicare Orthotics and Prosthetics Improvement Act of 2013.

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