American Association for Homecare Proposes Aggressive 13-Point Plan to Stop Medicare Fraud and Recoup Billions; Calls Steps Essential to Medicar...( ARLINGTON Va. Oct. 27 -- Tough n...),Health

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Tough new steps must be taken to prevent fraud and abuse in Medicare, says the American Association for Homecare, which today announced 13 specific recommendations that could eliminate most of the Medicare fraud attributed to the home medical equipment (HME) sector. The Association has been working with Congress and regulators over the past year to adopt tougher, more effective measures to combat Medicare fraud.

"The homecare sector has zero tolerance for illegal activity, and we are frustrated that the problem seems to be growing rather than shrinking," said Tyler J. Wilson, president and CEO of the American Association for Homecare. "Taxpayer dollars lost to fraud represent theft of resources needed by seniors and people with disabilities. So, we are sharing these aggressive new recommendations with Medicare and its contractors, Congress, the Department of Justice, and the FBI in the hope that we can keep criminals away from the Medicare program."

"Because the home is the most cost-effective setting for healthcare, home-based care is a key part of the solution to the nation's healthcare crisis and to Medicare reform," Wilson said. "Wise use of home medical equipment and therapies will help rein in spiraling costs."

The specific recommendations made by the American Association for Homecare include:

-- Mandate Site Inspections for All New Home Medical Equipment Providers

A July 2008 GAO report underscored the need for CMS to ensure that its contractors are conducting effective site inspections for all new applicants for a Medicare supplier number.

-- Require Site Inspections for All HME Provider Renewals

All renewal applications should require an in-person visit by the National Supplier Clearinghouse (NSC), the contractor that CMS uses to ensure integrity in the Medicare program.

-- Improve Validation of New Homecare Providers

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