CMS Announces Actions To Eliminate Health Care Fraud

The White House announced new steps “to crack down on fraud in Medicare and Medicaid to protect patients and taxpayers and improve affordability.” The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is placing a moratorium on new Medicare enrollment for certain durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supply companies. The moratorium will allow CMS to explore additional safeguards to further mitigate waste, fraud and abuse perpetrated by certain DMEPOS companies.

CMS also is requesting stakeholder input on additional ways the agency can prevent fraud that will be used to develop possible future rulemaking under CMS’ Comprehensive Regulations to Uncover Suspicious Healthcare Initiative. Comments must be received within 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.