Creation of HEAT hopes to combat Medicare fraud

Attorney General Eric Holder and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today the start of a new program called Healthcare Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT).

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Seblius stated,
“Today, we are turning up the heat on perpetrators who steal from the taxpayers and threaten the future of Medicare and Medicaid. Most providers are doing the right thing and providing care with integrity. But we cannot and will not allow billions of dollars to be stolen from Medicare and Medicaid through fraud, waste and serious abuse of the system. It’s time to bring the fight against fraud into the 21st century and put the resources on the streets and out into the community to protect the American taxpayers and lower the cost of health care.”

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