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Medicare Home Health Services: No Surety in the Fight Against Fraud and Waste
House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight Subcommittee on Human Resources
House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight
Subcommittee on Human Resources
Abstract
The Subcommittee on Human Resources of the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight investigated the issue of waste, fraud, and abuse documented in Medicare's home health programs, which provide in-home health care to homebound patients who needed part-time or intermittent care. Issues of fraud and abuse arose as patients who did not meet the qualifications for this service were requesting home care. Through the investigation, the subcommittee found that the Health Care Financing Administration(HCFA) failed to follow regular administrative rule making procedures in crafting a surety bond requirement and did not ensure the financial responsibility of Medicare home health providers. In response, the subcommittee recommended the HCFA use resources to better address the fraud in Medicare health benefits programs, follow the Administration Procedures Act which permits collaboration with experts in drafting regulations for the implementation of novel and complex program requirements, and pursue use of existing statutory and regulatory authority to ensure the financial responsibility of home health agencies.
Date
1998-10-15
Document Type
House Committee Approved Report
Serial Number
105-821.H
Document Length
32 pages
Congress
105
Relation
DOI
Keywords
Committee Approved Reports
PAP Major Code
3: Health
PAP Minor Code
334: Long-term Care, Home Health, Hospice, and Rehabilitation Services