Wisconsin Senior Medicare Patrol » Medicaid http://www.wisconsinsmp.org Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:18:36 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 OIG Seeks Public Assistance to Capture Health Care Fugitives http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/2011/12/office-of-inspector-general-seeks-public-assistance-to-capture-scammers/ http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/2011/12/office-of-inspector-general-seeks-public-assistance-to-capture-scammers/#comments Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:16:09 +0000 awinder http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/?p=1249 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) is currently looking for more than a hundred healthcare fugitives who are charged with defrauding Medicare and Medicaid out of 400 million dollars. OIG’s most wanted fugitives website highlights the top criminals on its list. Visitors to the website can view photos and read descriptions and statistics about each criminal. Gerald T. Roy, Deputy Inspector General for Investigations encourages consumers to visit the website often, especially if there’s concern about a scam in your area. He says catching these criminals helps protect tax payer dollars and programs meant to help those in need.

Find more information here:
http://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/fugitives/index.asp

You can also watch Mr. Roy speak about the website in this new video:

]]> http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/2011/12/office-of-inspector-general-seeks-public-assistance-to-capture-scammers/feed/ 0 Seven Charged with Medicaid Fraud http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/2011/10/seven-charged-with-medicaid-fraud/ http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/2011/10/seven-charged-with-medicaid-fraud/#comments Wed, 26 Oct 2011 16:38:30 +0000 Angela Wilson http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/?p=1187 Seven people are charged with stealing more than a million dollars from Wisconsin’s Medicaid program, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports.

The paper reports that those charged billed Medicaid for equipment never delivered to patients.

According to the story:

Criminal complaints attached to the released allege all seven submitted applications to Wisconsin Medicaid to become durable medical equipment providers before receiving provider numbers and authorization to bill the program.

According to (Attorney General J.B.) Van Hollen’s office, such equipment typically requires specialized medical treatment for installation and use, but there were no complementary claims from hospitals or physicians.

Also, recipients for whom the devices were requested did not know the providers and did not have a need for such orthotic devices, his office said.

]]> http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/2011/10/seven-charged-with-medicaid-fraud/feed/ 0 Drug Makers Pay $4.2 Million for Fraud http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/2011/03/drug-makers-pay-4-2-million-for-fraud/ http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/2011/03/drug-makers-pay-4-2-million-for-fraud/#comments Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:18:53 +0000 Angela Wilson http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/?p=842 Three drug companies will pay dearly for bilking the state’s Medicaid program.

The Wisconsin State Journal reports that Merck & Co., Schering Corp. and Warrick Pharmaceuticals Corp. will pay a total of $4.2 million in fees and restitution for inflating drug prices and changing reimbursement formulas.

Wisconsin has accused a total of 36 companies with fraud in a lawsuit filed seven years ago, the Journal reports.

]]> http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/2011/03/drug-makers-pay-4-2-million-for-fraud/feed/ 0 SeniorCare Cut Under New Budget http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/2011/03/seniorcare-cut-under-new-budget/ http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/2011/03/seniorcare-cut-under-new-budget/#comments Thu, 17 Mar 2011 10:37:29 +0000 Angela Wilson http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/?p=821 The state’s new budget will cut prescription coverage under SeniorCare.

That means most of the 91,000 enrollees will need to find private supplements – which could cost thousands.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel explains:

“Most people now in SeniorCare will not be better off in Medicare Part D,” said John Hendrick, governmental affairs director for the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups.

The least expensive prescription drug plan through Medicare Part D in Wisconsin this year costs $177.60 and has a $310 annual deductible as well as co-pays. Most cost more: The average plan costs $43.96 a month, or $527 a year, based on estimated enrollment, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

In contrast, almost 40,000 of the people in the SeniorCare program – those with household incomes below $17,424 for one person and $23,536 for two people – pay only a $5 co-pay for generic drugs and $15 for branded drugs, plus a $30 annual enrollment fee.

]]> http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/2011/03/seniorcare-cut-under-new-budget/feed/ 0 Thousands Could Lose Medicaid Benefits http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/2011/03/thousands-could-lose-medicaid-benefits/ http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/2011/03/thousands-could-lose-medicaid-benefits/#comments Tue, 01 Mar 2011 11:47:44 +0000 Angela Wilson http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/?p=788 A new bill would cut Medicaid help for 65,000 Wisconsin residents, according to DailyHealthReport.org. It would also give lawmakers full control over Medicaid and take it out of voters’ hands, the site reports.

Wisconsin’s budget woes – caused mostly by Medicaid debt – is part of an interesting feature at Forbes.com, which explains the situation and political implications in detail.

]]> http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/2011/03/thousands-could-lose-medicaid-benefits/feed/ 0 Constitutional Issues with New Medicaid Bill http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/2011/02/constitutional-issues-with-new-medicaid-bill/ http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/2011/02/constitutional-issues-with-new-medicaid-bill/#comments Sun, 20 Feb 2011 20:40:03 +0000 Angela Wilson http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/?p=774 The Cap Times reports that sweeping Medicaid reforms proposed by the lawmakers are unconstitutional and could circumvent the legislative process.

According to the story:

Advocates have attacked the measure for granting the Walker administration sweeping powers to revamp and even gut the state’s public health programs without following the legislative processes, public vetting and state laws normally required. They worry these moves are designed to lay the groundwork for an assault on the state’s Badgercare and other public health programs.

The Cap Times today takes note that most media coverage in Wisconsin has focused on work rights, rather than this bill’s impact on healthcare. Read it here.

]]> http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/2011/02/constitutional-issues-with-new-medicaid-bill/feed/ 0 Video: Avoiding Medicare and Medicaid Fraud and Abuse http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/2011/02/video-avoiding-medicare-and-medicaid-fraud-and-abuse/ http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/2011/02/video-avoiding-medicare-and-medicaid-fraud-and-abuse/#comments Fri, 18 Feb 2011 14:21:02 +0000 Angela Wilson http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/?p=771 The U.S. Department of Health recently released this video for physicians, but everyone can learn something from it.

]]> http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/2011/02/video-avoiding-medicare-and-medicaid-fraud-and-abuse/feed/ 0 Wisconsin Medicaid $214 Million Short http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/2011/01/wisconsin-medicaid-214-million-short/ http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/2011/01/wisconsin-medicaid-214-million-short/#comments Mon, 31 Jan 2011 18:16:04 +0000 Angela Wilson http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/?p=753 Wisconsin’s Medicaid program is in the red $214 million, but even with rising costs, the federal healthcare reform bill could boost revenues to it.

The poor economy has sent more to government health services. Under new federal laws, this year Wisconsin will shell out double that amount.

However, the federal government may end up paying Wisconsin about a billion dollars for services, according to the Pierce County Herald.

]]> http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/2011/01/wisconsin-medicaid-214-million-short/feed/ 0 Daycare Providers Charged with Fraud http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/2011/01/daycare-providers-charged-with-fraud/ http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/2011/01/daycare-providers-charged-with-fraud/#comments Fri, 28 Jan 2011 16:50:22 +0000 Angela Wilson http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/?p=744 In an ever-expanding world of fraud, four more Wisconsin daycare providers were charged with bilking the Wisconsin Shares program of thousands.

A Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel investigation last year showed that the Wisconsin Shares program was mired with millions in fraudulent claims.

Read more about the latest charges in the investigation.

]]> http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/2011/01/daycare-providers-charged-with-fraud/feed/ 0 Cracking Down http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/2011/01/cracking-down/ http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/2011/01/cracking-down/#comments Tue, 18 Jan 2011 14:26:33 +0000 Angela Wilson http://www.wisconsinsmp.org/?p=718 A recent video shows how the federal government is cracking down on fraud in Medicare and Medicaid. The video is part of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services YouTube channel.

Watch the video below or by clicking this link: http://www.youtube.com/user/cmshhsgov#p/u/14/7NOwdkRDBCw

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