President’s Proposed Budget Adds $70 Million For Healthcare Fraud Funding

President Donald Trump’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2018 increased funding by $70 million to fight healthcare fraud, while cutting deeply in other HHS programs. The budget calls for a $15.1 billion, or 17.9%, decrease below the current year level. Language in the proposed budget explains that the increases are meant to boost the “integrity and sustainability” of the Medicare and Medicaid programs by granting an additional $70 million in funding that was directed to the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control (HCFAC) program. It was noted that this program brought in a return of $5 for every $1 it spent between 2014 and 2016, recouping $3.3 billion last year. In commenting on the additional funding for the HCFAC program, language in the proposed budget notes that the program “has allowed [CMS] in recent years to shift away from a ‘pay-and-chase’ model toward identifying and preventing fraudulent or improper payments from being paid in the first place.”

Visit Strategic Management At The 2017 HCCA Compliance Institute

Strategic Management and Compliance Resource Center are excited to participate in the 2017 HCCA compliance institute. We invite you to visit Booth 422 to learn how our comprehensive compliance services and solutions can meet your needs.