Gus M. Bilirakis
04/19/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/19/2024 13:12
Bilirakis and Craig Work to Prevent Improper Medicaid Payments for Deceased Beneficiaries
Washington, DC - Earlier today, Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Angie Craig (D-MN) introduced the Leveraging Integrity and Verification of Eligibility for (LIVE) Beneficiaries Act. According to a recent HHS Office of Inspector General report, an audit of just 14 states found more than $249 million in improper Medicaid capitation payments that were made to Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) on behalf of deceased enrollees. The commonsense legislation filed today by Bilirakis and Craig would address this problem by requiring states to check the Social Security Administration's Death Master File database on a quarterly basis and verify that Medicaid patients are not deceased and still properly enrolled in the program. Should there be discrepancies, state Medicaid programs would be required to disenroll deceased beneficiaries from their rolls. This action will prevent MCOs from improperly billing for those who are no longer living.
"As we work to ensure the long-term solvency of critical safety net programs, like Medicaidand Medicare, we have an obligation to ensure we are serving as good stewards of taxpayer dollars, said Congressman Gus Bilirakis. "This means we must prevent fraud, waste, and abuse whenever possible. By implementing simple safeguards like the ones in this bill, we can strengthen these programs and help ensure they are meeting their intended purpose of providing access to quality care for our most vulnerable citizens."
"We've got to cut government spending when it's not helping everyday Minnesotans. That's why I'm proud to lead this bipartisan bill with Rep. Bilirakis today to improve Medicaid and ensure we're using taxpayer dollars responsibly. I'll be working across the aisle to get this common sense bill passed," said Rep. Angie Craig.
Click here for the full bill text.