House Panel Examines Human Toll of Health Care Fraud

Medicare and Medicaid fraud is not just a financial crime but a physical threat to patients, a panel of experts told lawmakers on Feb. 3. Patients often suffer from unnecessary, inadequate, or a complete lack of medical care in all cases of Medicare and Medicaid fraud, John Joyce, chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations for the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, said. In other cases, patients are unknowingly victims of identity theft or misleading marketing practices perpetrated by these fraudsters. “Health care fraud is becoming easier and more lucrative than the illicit drug trade,” said Joyce. “Patients will suffer if these health care programs cannot continue on responsible fiscal paths. It is our duty in Congress to protect these programs for our most vulnerable Americans.”...