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Crackdown on Medicare Fraud a Priority for Obama Administration

BY JAY WEAVER
jweaver at MiamiHerald.com
A new sense of urgency is shaping the U.S. government's fight against Medicare fraud as the Obama administration strives to sell the public on expanding healthcare to cover uninsured Americans.

Cabinet officials commenting on this week's trio of Medicare fraud crackdowns in Miami and other cities pushed an emerging two-pronged approach, focusing on fraud prevention as well as prosecutions.

Earlier in the week, federal agents took down 53 Medicare fraud suspects in Miami, Detroit and other cities in a roundup of doctors, clinic owners and patients on charges of conspiring to defraud the government program of $56 million. Several have left for Cuba.

Multiple indictments, returned by a federal grand jury in Michigan, spotlighted HIV infusion and physical therapy that have been widespread in Miami and were transported to Detroit, the latest Medicare fraud hot spot.

The severity of the problem in Detroit prompted Holder, Sebelius and FBI Director Robert Mueller to hold the news conference Wednesday at the Justice Department.

And the previous day, agents broke up a Miami-based ring that allegedly schemed to defraud Medicare of $100 million by filing false claims for obsolete HIV therapy across five states. Two of the eight suspects have fled to Cuba.Earlier in the week, federal agents took down 53 Medicare fraud suspects in Miami, Detroit and other cities in a roundup of doctors, clinic owners and patients on charges of conspiring to defraud the government program of $56 million.

Multiple indictments, returned by a federal grand jury in Michigan, spotlighted HIV infusion and physical therapy that have been widespread in Miami and were transported to Detroit, the latest Medicare fraud hot spot.

The severity of the problem in Detroit prompted Holder, Sebelius and FBI Director Robert Mueller to hold the news conference Wednesday at the Justice Department.

And the previous day, agents broke up a Miami-based ring that allegedly schemed to defraud Medicare of $100 million by filing false claims for obsolete HIV therapy across five states. Two of the eight suspects have fled to Cuba.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/story/1116390.html

By miamimike on Jun 26, 2009, 22:20 in Off Topic.

goin_south says on Jun 27, 2009, 12:54:

yeah,....if you're on Medicare, your M.D. will order unnecessary tests and examines galore.
There won't be any thing there in a few more years, thanks to those bastards.
And, believe me... be careful RIGHT NOW... because they are grasping for the last dollar available...TESTS, TESTS, AND MORE TESTS!

BE CAREFUL.
(But, I know... so many of you like being poked and probed...jaja)

nothin I say is to be takn for my words, but rather for the words of Sailor Jerry.

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miamimike says on Jun 27, 2009, 22:14:

GS--This has more to do with these Scam Clinics owned by others from the Non Medical fields. Why it took so long for the Govt to come down hard is simply astounding but we are happy its started finally. They have head a free rein for well over the past 6 years, why is a good question. Many of these Scammers have fled back to Cuba with their millions but hey, for the past deacde or so, they were on the right side of Politics. No Longer,,,

No hay Peor Ciego que el que no quiere Ver o Sordo que el que no quiera Oir--Soy Yo, Sarah Palin, Wasilla Alaska.

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miamimike says on Jun 28, 2009, 10:22:

The Important question is why no one in the past administartion went after them. Any idea why this didn't happen? Why they were allowed to steal Millions from the US Taxpayer? You sound disappointed someone is fianlly tyring to put a stop to the wholsale thievery,,,

No hay Peor Ciego que el que no quiere Ver o Sordo que el que no quiera Oir--Soy Yo, Sarah Palin, Wasilla Alaska.

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goin_south says on Jun 28, 2009, 11:08:

Miamike... let me assure you....medical doctors in general take ultimate advantage of medicare paying for tests, after tests, after unnecessary tests. I know. I hear it, every week.

nothin I say is to be takn for my words, but rather for the words of Sailor Jerry.

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miamimike says on Jun 28, 2009, 12:04:

Yes but the issue(article)here in Florida is about these Straw owners of these bogus clinics billing Medicare for Millions. You needn't assure me as I have worked in the Medical Area here in Florida for 20 years.What the above article is referring to are these scammers operating Bogus clinics, raking in the dough and if they can, hightail it back to Cuba or other LA Countries with the stolen loot. The Doctors have a role only in that sign off on the treatment prescriptions and they are then payed a set amount for the patients they sign off on. The Big Money is made by the Bogus Clinic owners and that is what the article is about. You are referring to a completely different issue but a big problem also. This tests you are referring to are legitimately precribed and given in many cases. Many Docs do it out of fear if they don't and something is missed, they will sued but in many cases, their Clinics are completely Legit. This(OP) is about a completely different issue FYI.

No hay Peor Ciego que el que no quiere Ver o Sordo que el que no quiera Oir--Soy Yo, Sarah Palin, Wasilla Alaska.

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