According to a new federal report acquired by the Associated Press, a large increase in improper payments from the Medicare program has increased concern about costs. The report says that as much as $47 billion in fraudulent Medicare claims were made. That figure triples the number from the previous year.
It isn’t yet known whether or not Medicare fraud is becoming more prevelant. What is known is that too many people rely on Medicare for medical bill payments, and that’s a problem that could make it harder for honest people to afford medical treatment.
Our San Diego personal injury lawyers know that Americans over the age of 65 and some people with extreme circumstances rely on Medicare to help them pay back their medical bills. In a system where too many people rely on the service, it is important to make sure that the actions of a small group of people don’t adversely affect the lives of many.
According to the report, the questionable claims include Medicare prescriptions from doctors who were dead and requests for some medical supplies. To reduce the amount of suspect behavior, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will be starting an interactive Web site in December allowing for the tracking of Medicare payment information.
Our personal injury lawyers in San Diego want people who need Medicare to be able to get it without any problems. If what the report says is true and there are fraudulent claims being made, could that be making how much hospitals ask for in return for service higher? And if that is also true, could that be making it more difficult for hospitals to accept new patients on Medicare?
Any way you look at it, insurance fraud such as this only makes things worse for everyone.
Please contact us for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney — we speak both English and Spanish — at (800) 655-6585. Click here and you may also submit your case for a Free Review. No fee if no recovery.
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Tags: medical bills, medicare, personal injury lawyers, San Diego
