Chairman Rick Scott Issues Statement Following HHS Report on Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in Medicare

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Rick Scott, chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, released the below statement following the publication of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) report on the waste, fraud, and abuse found in Medicare Part B payments for skin substitutes. This follows Senator Scott's letter expressing concerns of fraud in these payments.

Chairman Rick Scott said, "The latest report from the HHS-OIG raises serious alarms about the skyrocketing costs and potential fraud associated with skin substitute payments under Medicare Part B. These payments have soared over the past two years, surging to over $10 billion annually, fueled by questionable billing practices and a lack of adequate oversight and transparency to the American public. This shows an unsustainable trend that may be occurring in other payments, and if left unchecked, could harm the long-term stability of Medicare. I commend the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Administrator Mehmet Oz for proposing reforms aimed at cutting waste, fraud, and abuse while maintaining high-quality care. My recent letter to Administrator Oz underscores the urgency of this issue and seeks to support ongoing efforts to ensure taxpayer dollars are protected. It is essential that we remain vigilant and proactive in addressing these vulnerabilities - together, we must ensure seniors receive the care they need without opening the door to fraud and abuse."

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