Committee Highlights Bipartisan Walberg Bill to Reduce Medicaid Fraud, Protect Patients
Washington, D.C.—Today, the Health Subcommittee held a hearing entitled "Opportunities to Improve Health Care," which featured Congressman Tim Walberg's bipartisan legislation to better identify Medicaid fraud and protect those who are served by the program. Introduced with Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT), H.R. 3891 broadens the authority of Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs) to identify, investigate, and prosecute possible fraud, patient abuse or neglect wherever it may occur.
"Medicaid Fraud Control Units play a vital role in cracking down on Medicaid fraud, protecting beneficiaries from abuse, and bringing bad actors to justice," said Congressman Walberg. "Our bipartisan bill will improve their ability to protect vulnerable patients from harm and ensure an appropriate use of taxpayer resources. I was pleased to hear strong support for moving this legislation forward."
Earlier this year, the National Association of Attorneys General announced their support of H.R. 3891 in a letter signed by a bipartisan group of 49 state attorneys general. In 2017, MFCUs recovered over $7 million in taxpayer dollars and contributed to 24 convictions in Michigan. Nationally, MFCUs were responsible for about $1.8 billion in recovered funds and 2,500 convictions.
Congressman Walberg serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Education and the Workforce Committee as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions. For more information on Walberg's work in Congress visit walberg.house.gov.