Government
Medicare hires fraud fighters for new drug program
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Oct. 24, 2005
The federal government has signed contracts with eight private firms to weed out fraud in the new Medicare prescription drug program, officials announced recently. Already, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has received isolated reports of scams in which seniors have been asked for bank account numbers by people claiming to be drug plan representatives, CMS Administrator Mark McClellan, MD, PhD, told reporters.
Patients and physicians who suspect fraudulent activity can file a report with the Dept. of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General at 800-HHS-TIPS.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/10/24/gvbf1024.htm.