The amount of money cheated out of Americans and insurance companies via Medicare fraud is estimated to be approximately $100 billion just in 2023. Representative Aaron Bean (R-FL) has introduced a new bill to combat such rampant deception, specifically targeting loopholes that have allowed non-physicians to bill health insurance companies for millions of dollars frequently.
As Rep. Bean explained in his press release, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issue healthcare providers a 10-digit National Provider Identifier (NPI) code. However, this system is dangerously lax, lacking verification and potentially allowing non-healthcare providers to obtain an NPI number and make false insurance claims.
As a result, the Florida Congressman's Medical License Verification Act would tighten the issuance of NPI numbers by requiring CMS to verify medical licenses as valid and in good standing more thoroughly.
"Millions of Floridians rely on Medicare and Medicaid, but rising fraud and abuse threatens to undermine these programs and drive up healthcare costs. This bill represents a small and commonsense step to protect our healthcare programs and prevent bad actors from defrauding Florida families," said Rep. Bean in his press release.
The Medical License Verification Act marks Bean's second bill in recent months to fight healthcare and insurance fraud, introducing the Prompt Reporting and Oversight for Medicare Providing Transparency' (PROMPT) Act in late August.
The PROMPT Act, with its requirement for the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to explain every new furnishing of an item or service within 30 days, holds the potential to significantly reduce fraudulent Medicare spending. This Act offers hope for a more transparent and accountable system, a potential game-changer in the fight against Medicare fraud.
"Rising fraud and criminal activity threatens to undermine the Medicare system for Northeast Floridians. We have an obligation to ensure that taxpayer dollars keep our most vulnerable populations healthy, not lining the pockets of fraudsters. By increasing reporting, we can make significant strides toward addressing this growing problem and protecting Americans," Bean previously said.
