--HHS and the Inspector General's office will establish procedures for provider and supplier screening for those participating in Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP. New providers and suppliers will have a provisional period of enhanced oversight, including prepayment review and payment caps.

--HHS will have agreements to share and match data for detecting fraud and abuse, with the departments of Veterans Affairs, Defense, Social Security and Indian Health.


--All Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP providers must include their national provider identifier on all applications to enroll in the programs, and on all claims for payment. HHS may require some providers to provide a surety bond.

--Finally, anyone making a knowingly false statement, omission or misrepresentation of a material fact in applications, agreements, bids or contracts in federal health care programs will be subject to civil money penalties up to $50,000. HHS may suspend payments to providers or suppliers pending investigation of credible allegations of fraud.

In other reform news, the Obama Administration is kicking off new efforts to promote the advantages of the PPACA. President Obama focused first on seniors, with a tele-town hall meeting on Tuesday. The President took questions from seniors around the country, and explained the benefits for seniors in the reform law. "First and foremost, what you need to know is that the guaranteed Medicare benefits that you've earned will not change, regardless of whether you receive them through Medicare or Medicare Advantage," the president said. "What you'll see through this new law are new benefits, new cost savings, and an increased focus on quality to ensure that you get the care that you need. And we're moving quickly and carefully to implement this law so that you begin to see some of these savings immediately." Obama also detailed efforts to warn seniors about con artists using reform changes for scams (See, DM 12943), and about stronger efforts to crack down on fraud and abuse.

The president's remarks: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-a-tele-town-hall-with-seniors

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