$60 Billion Fraud: ‘60 Minutes’ Investigates Medicare/Medicaid Billing Scam

60 Minutes: President Obama says rising costs are driving huge federal budget deficits that imperil our future, and that there is enough waste and fraud in the system to pay for health care reform if it was eliminated. At the center of both issues is Medicare, the government insurance program that provides health care to 46 million elderly and disabled Americans. But it also provides a rich and steady income stream for criminals who are constantly finding new ways to steal a sizable chunk of the half trillion dollars that are paid out each year in Medicare benefits. In fact, Medicare fraud - estimated now to total about $60 billion a year - has become one of, if not the most profitable, crimes in America.

October 26, 2009 at 12:56 pm - 60 Minutes
Dateline: Washington DC
Other   October 26th, 2009 - 1:07 pm

So why does he need to pass massive Health Care laws to fix it?
Fix it now and people may think you know what you are talking about.

kdj   October 26th, 2009 - 1:18 pm

Now lets try it on a much bigger scale! It always turns out better when you take accountability out of the hands of people who have to make a profit, and put it into the hands of people who don’t have to be accountable! Go socialism!

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Travis   October 26th, 2009 - 1:27 pm

Just wait for Obamacare.

It will make this fraud look like chump change.

peter c   October 26th, 2009 - 1:31 pm

60 Billion Dollars is a Leftist lie! 60 minutes works for Obama…they are trying to show how much Obama can get by eliminating Medicaid fraud to help boast Obama Socialist Health Care Plan…

60 minutes has been a voice of the far left environmentalists…abortion supporters…attacks all corporations… and falls in with Obamas Socialist lies every Sunday now.

And why turn our health insurance into a disaster to eliminate fraud? you can eliminate fraud NOW….without Giving us all a Third World Health System.

60 minutes is NOT was it used to be folks…Now it’s a propaganda tool for a Socialist/Communist take over of America which is happening right NOW.

Boycott 60 minutes…and everything on CBS…NBC…MSNBC…ABC…CNN…PBS….and most newspapers…They are full of filthy lies…and Godless Liberals who support lies…and Evil ways….Like teaching kids g@y s@x in Schools but killing God at the same time…etc….

Vote ALL Dems out in 2010 and their lying Messiah Obama out in 2012….if you want to save out GREAT Nation.

Obamasadopee   October 26th, 2009 - 1:44 pm

Medicare fraud! So let’s give Medicare to everyone. Medicaid is even worse.

lavoce   October 26th, 2009 - 1:46 pm

My first suspicion with all these empty offices bilking combined billions out of Medicare/Medicaid was, and is – ACORN. Who else?

When I saw U.S. Attoney General Eric Holder’s face, it was too good to be true! Then, I knew: “Oh-oh! Somebody just got thrown under the bus, AGAIN!”

Please visit newsmax.com to read THE FULL STORY of Dick Morris and Eileen McGann’s article to see why:

“Obama Taxes Pacemakers, Heart Valves”
Monday, October 26, 2009 9:55 AM – By: Dick Morris & Eileen McGann

“The more fiscal details of the healthcare bills emerge, the more appalling they seem.

The Senate Finance Committee bill includes a broad provision taxing all manner of medical devices. This tax includes such frivolous luxuries as pacemakers, stents, artificial heart valves, defibrillators, automated wheelchairs, mechanized artificial limbs, replacement hips and knees, surgical gurneys, laparoscopic equipment, and the like.

President Obama is planning to reduce the cost of medical care by taxing it! …”

So, now ICHABOD – usurper Barry Soetoro aka/alien Barack Hussein Obama – and his self-professed Communists, Socialists, Marxists, Maoists, Fascists, and his Administration, are going to rip AMERICANS OFF, YET ONE MORE TIME?!

IMPEACH Barry Soetoro aka/alien Barack Hussein Obama
IMPEACH Joe Biden
IMPEACH Nancy Pelosi

Once a Self-serving Community Organizer, Always a Self-serving Community Organizer
“Antagonize-Intimidate-Manipulate” – “Disrupt-Dismantle-Defeat”
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
“…And he called for his fiddlers, three.”

Rexter   October 26th, 2009 - 2:14 pm

Wait a minute – we were told Health Care INSURANCE “Reform” was supposed to save money….now we need to save money to pay for it? These libs can’t get their story straight.

DDuke   October 26th, 2009 - 2:20 pm

Massive fraud is typical of any government run program. When some people say they just “want a piece of the pie” they mean it literally, not figuratively.

That is the best reason in the world for not expanding government medical programs.

When the socialists say they are going to eliminate fraud to pay $500,000,000 for one half of the socialized health care I just have to laugh. If anything, fraud will increase and we will still be a half billion short.

Rexter   October 26th, 2009 - 2:20 pm

I’ve been calling for such a strike force for fraud in welfare. Anyone receiving it that has a loud radio needs to be stricken from the role immediately. You would find illegal aliens with new cars, etc…..

SubjectoftheUSSA   October 26th, 2009 - 2:20 pm

60 billion, that’s probably just fraud for the year of 2009 so far.

SubjectoftheUSSA   October 26th, 2009 - 2:25 pm

*sigh* all the taxes I have paid, and ever will pay, in my entire lifetime…. stolen in seconds. Gubment don’t care tho. This has been going on since these entitlement programs began. But the libs will never open their eyes, votes are more important than anything.

Rexter   October 26th, 2009 - 2:45 pm

Is “Tony” one of those immigrants that Geraldo Rivero says will help this country become wealthy?

deek   October 26th, 2009 - 3:04 pm

Can’t wait for the government to take over the entire health care system, then we’ll get to see just how much fraud can be manufactured at the tax payers expense.

Check out the latest articles at http://twilightfalling.blogspot.com

revolverBoy   October 26th, 2009 - 3:05 pm

Don’t worry, Clara dear, someone IS looking into it. Obama will find out what became of that $2000 urine bag for you. He has a keen insight into corruption that should be useful here. All he asks in return is a trillion dollars and unprecedented, unconstitutional federal powers. With our money and compliance, Obama will be able to return all those rascally gas-powered arms and legs to the medical device closets from whence they came

lavoce   October 26th, 2009 - 3:06 pm

This Medicare/Medicaid Billing Scam is bad enough, but – U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder might have had to put in an appearance on behalf of the White House on this bilking for another “hush, hush!” reason.

As Rush Limbaugh would say (except he’s on vacation today): “Drum Roll, please. Dadl-up! Dadl-up! Dadl-up!”

The White House is about to put a stealthy squeeze on AMERICANS – ONE MORE TIME – with “A Secret, Second Stimulus.” (MoneyNews.com/Dan Weil – 10/26/09)

Once A Self-Serving Community Organizer, Always A Self-Serving Community Organizer
“Antagonize-Intimidate-Manipulate” – “Disrupt-Dismantle-Defeat”
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
“…And he called for his fiddlers, three.”

Pete   October 26th, 2009 - 3:10 pm

I watched the episode last night and I could not believe they talked about all the fraud in Medicare/Medicaid and only once mentioned ObamaCare. The whole story should have been about how ObamaCare would expand the total $$$$ for people to committ fraud.

60 MINUTES IS A FRAUD, YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES.

Eric   October 26th, 2009 - 3:57 pm

It will only get worse.

It’s amazing… instead of fixing the leaking ship we’re on, our messiah wants to make the ship bigger.

If my personal finances were this messed up I’d be out in the cold.

And you are now just realizing this?   October 26th, 2009 - 4:04 pm

Welcome to the wonderful world of PUBLIC OPTION. (scratch that) PUBLIC MANDATE!

FastFacts   October 26th, 2009 - 4:21 pm

If there are so much fraud, why wait till the bill is passed to get rid of it. Pass a bipartisan bill to get rid of the fraud and waste in medicaid and then lets pass the bill if we actually save that money. Reid has now come out to say he wants the Public Option in his plan though he still doesn’t have the votes.

SOURCE: http://www.americanparchment.com

Huh?   October 26th, 2009 - 4:27 pm

This is NOT news. This fraud has been going on for years now and has only come under scrutiny since the new administration. Thank GOD we have a new President and administration that really wants to tackle the problem instead of pretending it doesn’t exist like the previous administration did for the past eight years while spending over $1.5 trillion in an unneeded war.

Charlie   October 26th, 2009 - 5:02 pm

During my teenage years my parents would constantly rimind me that I had no say in how our home was run until I become a productive member of the household. During my late teen years, while working and paying my own bills my parents would treat me like an equal with equal say.

I now look at our welfare state and wonder why this is not the case in our country. If you live off of government handouts (i.e. act like a child) you should not get a vote (i.e. no say in how our house is run). I realize that this seems harsh and extreme but its not meant to be that way. Its meant to be more of a motivation to get up and become a productive tax paying citizen instead of a needy child.

kmichaels   October 26th, 2009 - 5:07 pm

Government programs are always easy fraud targets and the taxpayers are the dopes that end up footing the bill for all of the fraud. And the government has no incentive, such as a private company would, to cover their backs.

H2K   October 26th, 2009 - 5:19 pm

Yes, 60 Minutes is a liberal proxy for Obama.
Yes, they probably think that identifying $60B in waste/fraud/abuse will help Obama’s case.

But, I think they have misread the American tax-payers. Eliminate ALL fraud before you come back and ask me for any more money.

stacie   October 26th, 2009 - 5:39 pm

Tax free way for Health care – Tort reform (cap the amount one can win in a lawsuit – works in Texas) & state to state competition (will make healthcare insurance as cheap or cheaper than car insurance.)The Baucus bill is all about big government.

JP   October 26th, 2009 - 6:12 pm

If they estimate 60 Bil, then double or triple it again.
Gee!Did this just start happening? Maybe they should have done this rather then the phony Bush charges.

POed Taxpayer   October 26th, 2009 - 6:57 pm

I say increase the number of inspectors to look into fraud. We have THOUSANDS of that needs jobs why not train them and turn them loose!!!

They can do the job!!!

Bill   October 26th, 2009 - 7:18 pm

I think I will make a career change.

Sick of them   October 26th, 2009 - 9:01 pm

Bashing the Doctors. Some may do this, yes. Most Doctors do not.
Just another way to help push this No Health Care Bill.
If you call your Doctor’s office ot Hospital, they will reduce the amount.
They will work with you. You have to remember also, some people just flat out don’t want to pay
anything. Even if you have insurance, there is always a balance to pay. As long as they get something
even 5.00 am month, they can’t say you are not paying.

backspace2112   October 26th, 2009 - 9:02 pm

THe clip of the woman being snaged in the hospital gown in this cilp is also in sicko by M.Moore

Sick of them   October 26th, 2009 - 9:07 pm

How many are going to be able to pay the fine if you don’t get the NO HEALTH CARE BILL.
This will destroy families and businesses.

pjean   October 26th, 2009 - 9:43 pm

It is pure idiocy and lack of courage for this admin to turn their back on fraud and abuse in this government medical program. Instead they choose to cut benefits from seniors who paid into the system as members of the American workforce while doctors AND patients are abusing the system to line their pockets. Disgusting and reckless of this administration.

Mike   October 27th, 2009 - 12:22 am

If the government hasn’t been able to get a handle on Medicare and Medicaid fraud how on God’s green earth can we expect the government to run the whole health care system for the entire Country!!! This is one of the biggest shams being perpetrated on the American people if indeed the health care bill passes and becomes law. Why?? do Democrats want to “gut” our current health care system, which just so happens to be the best health system EVER devised by man since the world began, and tear it apart and essentially start again from scratch; and if and when it is finally imposed will STILL leave “millions” of Americans WITHOUT health care coverage? You want to know why? The Dems top priority is NOT about helping the uninsured get health insurance really, because if it was, the plan they’re cooking up right now behind closed doors would guarantee that every single American would have health care insurance and that simply WON’T happen. The Democrats are trying to “hood-wink” the American people into this so called ‘public option’ which Pelosi now wants to call a ‘consumer option’. Different name, still the same garbage Nancy! Give me a break!! >> It is ALL (and I can’t emphasize that word enough) ALL about “control”! It is Government trying to get its “greedy” hands (tentacles) into a lucrative money making proposition (for the Government and its continual growth) by taking over health care and thereby taking over the health care making decisions for the entire American population in the process! Making the American people “dependent” on Government for their vital needs. And the “taxes” that will be levied to pay for this monstrosity will further push the United States of America to the brink of bankruptcy and financial ruin. You will have Government then undercutting the competition and which will drive millions of people into the government run plan and basically running most if not all private health insurance companies OUT OF BUSINESS. And that’s what Obama and the radical liberal Democrats want in my opinion! They (the Government) want control!! If they control your health care they will essentially be able to control who lives and who dies! It will mean “rationing” of health care. It will mean end of life counseling and “value of life vs. cost” medical decisions given into the government’s hand and control. It is going to drive many physicians “out of business” because of lowered salaries and lower compensation and/or force many physicians to retire or take up a different occupation altogether.

The Government is doing all of this behind closed doors!?!?! – when promise breaking Obama said that his administration would be the most “transparent and open” in the history of our Nation? You LIE Barack Hussein Obama!! It is just Chicago style politics as usual that has simply been carried over into the White House from Chicago, along with the Chicago style “prevarication” as well..

Common sense: “If I have a toaster oven that acts up, do I tear the whole kitchen apart and build a new kitchen?” NO!!!! I just “fix” the toaster oven! What the Government SHOULD be doing is simply fixing the things in the Health Care System that need attending to and fixing – NOT “bulldozing” the entire current system and starting over from scratch! Any “sane” rational person could see that a million miles away!! Fix the fraud in Medicare and Medicaid Obama. Let people choose their health care plans from “across State lines” if they choose to Obama – which will provide greater competition within the Health Care industry and enable lower costs to Americans. Institute “tort” reform to insure that our Doctors are treated fairly and aren’t overly burdened by liability insurance costs in their practice(s) Obama! Oh, I almost forgot.. lawyers RUN Capitol Hill huh Obama.. ;) So that means you probably don’t want to upset the lobbyists and lawyers who RUN Capitol Hill now do you Obama. ;) Don’t do the right thing for America or the American people. Just do the “wrong” thing by doing what Obama wants and what your liberal crony friends in your administration want. It will no doubt reassure you of your one term presidency sealed and finalized. Go ahead and enjoy your next three years in office while you can Barry. November 6th 2012 is right around the corner and it will be here sooner than you think..

no longer confused   October 27th, 2009 - 1:30 am

NOW I see how the redistribution of wealth is going to work. Obama is going to tax anyone and anything that has value, pump it through a dispersal system that has no responsibility (the Federal Government that makes sure minorities get hired first)and give it to Community Organizations. Who in turn discriminate not only the cash but all the ins and outs about how to abuse the system. Wow welfare and fraud millionaires and all tax free. I can hardly wait to be ruined, lose my house, give up hope on the system, blame the producers of our society, so I can actually have a buck in my pocket. “Can I have another,Sir”

ITSTYRANNY   October 27th, 2009 - 3:12 am

Exactly, Mike. This is ALL about control. Government Healthcare will bankrupt this country, but that’s the whole idea. Destroy this system and rebuild a fully dependent controlled one. The fraud will be out of control, as it is now only on a much larger scale. Your freedom will be gone and everything you work for will be redistributed. The only ones who will have anything of value will be the ones controlling you. Thank you very much to all who voted for this Marxist loser. Brilliant move.

Rick Cain   October 27th, 2009 - 11:43 am

Lets be honest here. This is a case of private industry taking advantage of government, not the reverse. Private industry is a den of thieves, so deregulation will only make it worse.

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