So government auditors have uncovered evidence of fraud in Medicare. Or rather, more fraud. The politicos lingering around Washington can barely keep a straight face as they claim to be shocked.
A draft report by the inspector general of Health and Human Services — circulating on Capitol Hill and leaked this week — determines that Medicare may have paid $2.8 billion in improper or fake claims for medical equipment in 2006. That’s an error rate of 31.5%, in a single corner of this colossal entitlement. “This report doesn’t surprise me,” fumed Democrat Pete Stark.
Glad to hear the Congressman is catching on, given that dozens of studies have come to similar conclusions. But he aims his real outrage at the Bush Administration, which says it has stepped up its efforts to combat fraud and reined it in more than the inspector general alleges. “To look better to the public, you cook the books,” Mr. Stark continued. “This agency is incompetent.”
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121944730222565137.html
Discussion
No comments for “Audits uncover massive Medicare fraud”