[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 11658]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF EXCESSIVE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AUDITS

  (Mrs. ELLMERS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the excessive 
audit system that exists for our medical equipment providers that 
provide essential medical equipment for our seniors across this 
country. It is negatively affecting them and their businesses. These 
businesses provide essential services and education to our seniors and 
Medicare patients.
  It is important to point out that this practice was put in place 
because of the fraud and abuse that existed within the system; but 
rather than targeting fraudulent practices, they are targeting people 
playing by the rules and are being punished because of the bad actions 
of a few of the bad actors.
  One example is a business in my community that provides essential 
health care to Medicare and senior patients, providing oxygen and 
hospital beds, which are essential, basic equipment. They have been 
audited 50 percent of the time.
  This is a practice that has to end; and I am introducing legislation 
tomorrow that will address this issue, reform the system, and get to 
the point of really addressing the fraudulent practitioners that need 
the reform.

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