Senate Subcommittee Investigates Medicare Payment of Claims From Dead Physicians

by Astrid Fiano, DOTmed News Writer | July 23, 2008

Included in the report is a response letter from Herb Kuhn, Deputy Administrator for CMS. Mr. Kuhn states that CMS is engaging in a data-matching program with the Social Security Administration Date of Death with its NPI and provider enrollment database to be implemented later this year, along with other proposed measures.

In the hearing, Committee member Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) stated, "The failure to stop payment of deceased physician claims is inexcusable since dates of deaths are so readily available...As long as millions of dollars in claims with deceased provider identification numbers are paid, fraudsters will continue to rip off the system."

We repair MRI Coils, RF amplifiers, Gradient Amplifiers and Injectors.

MIT labs, experts in Multi-Vendor component level repair of: MRI Coils, RF amplifiers, Gradient Amplifiers Contrast Media Injectors. System repairs, sub-assembly repairs, component level repairs, refurbish/calibrate. info@mitlabsusa.com/+1 (305) 470-8013

Ranking member Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) stated, "Not only should we fix the system to prevent improper payments, but our law enforcement agencies should also go after the fraudulent actors who steal from all of us using false information. They are literally exploiting the demise of honorable physicians to rip off the American people and they should be prosecuted."

The report and testimony can be accessed at: http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Hearings.Detail&HearingID=eb856347-01f1-4b55-826e-a9bf5247072c

Back to HCB News