I defended my pharmacy from a robber. Protecting Medicaid against fraudsters is even harder
The article discusses the issue of fraud in Medicare and Medicaid, highlighting the contrast between the urgency of addressing a robbery and the bureaucratic response to healthcare fraud. It emphasizes that fraudulent claims divert essential funds from vulnerable populations who rely on these programs. The author argues for stronger oversight and accountability to protect these services from exploitation.
- ▪In fiscal 2023, Medicare and Medicaid accounted for 43% of all improper federal payments, exceeding $100 billion in waste, fraud, and abuse.
- ▪The author compares a pharmacy robbery to the exploitation of Medicare and Medicaid, noting that the latter is often treated as a bureaucratic issue rather than a crime.
- ▪Recent efforts by the Trump administration have led to significant suspensions of fraudulent Medicare payments and a major healthcare fraud takedown.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Years ago, a man walked into my family’s pharmacy in East Tennessee and pointed a gun at my face. There was no confusion about what was happening. Nobody called it a misunderstanding. Nobody suggested we should stay quiet to avoid offending anyone. We called it what it was: robbery. And we responded accordingly. Recommended Stories James Talarico fails Bible class We have to accelerate pharmacy benefit manager reform right now. Here’s why The drone war in Ukraine is a warning the Indo-Pacific cannot ignore Today, however, when fraudsters steal billions from Medicare and Medicaid, Washington too often treats it as a bureaucratic inconvenience rather than a crime.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Washington Examiner.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from Washington Examiner
