WASHINGTON, DC-Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee Ranking Member John Lewis (D-GA), delivered the following statement today at a Subcommittee hearing on improving efforts to combat health care fraud:
“Thank you, Chairman Boustany, for holding this important hearing on ways to fight health care fraud. This is an important topic that touches the lives of millions of Americans. Our health care dollars are too precious and we must ensure that those dollars are spent on health care.
“Last year, this Subcommittee held a hearing on fraud in the Medicare program. We learned about new tools and new approaches that were being used to protect Medicare patients and return billions of dollars to the program and taxpayers. We also explored the new provisions included in the Affordable Care Act that gave government agencies new tools to fight fraud.
“Today, I look forward to learning how these tools are being used to protect the Medicare program. I am interested in the new initiatives of the Department of Health and Human Services in this area. I also am interested in learning how people become involved in Medicare fraud, and how health plans, government agencies, and organizations can work together to detect and stop this abuse.
“In closing, I would like to thank the witnesses for being here today. I thank you for your testimony and willingness to share your experiences and ideas. I remain committed to protecting the Medicare program and finding new ways to work together with you and my colleagues to fight fraud in this important program. Together we will ensure that the Medicare program remains strong for the next generation of Americans."
