Fed Gov't expands program to provide Medicare tools to fight fraud & abuse

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), both of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ), will hold a news briefing to announce the expansion of a competitive bidding program designed to help lower Medicare beneficiaries’ out-of-pocket costs and reduce fraud and abuse while improving access to high quality durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS). DMEPOS items include standard and complex power wheelchairs, walkers, oxygen supplies and equipment, diabetic supplies, certain devices and hospital beds.
WHAT: News briefing to announce expansion of Medicare’s anti-fraud and abuse efforts in Los Angeles County and in 69 other communities, including many in NY and NJ.

WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2008

12-noon-1:00 PM, EST

WHERE: Federal Building, 300 N. Los Angeles St. (at Temple), downtown Los Angeles.

WHO: CMS Acting Administrator Kerry Weems

Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Gerald Roy

Joe O’Malley, Senior Medicare Patrol Volunteer


Additional information on the DMEPOS competitive bidding program is available at the following Web site: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/CompetitiveAcqforDMEPOS/