February 26, 2015

Contact:   Kelly Peuquet
                 National Coalition on Health Care
                 kpeuquet@nchc.org
                 202-638-7151, ext. 114

NCHC Urges Prompt House, Senate Action on Bipartisan Health Care Fraud Bill
Statement by National Coalition on Health Care President and CEO John Rother on today’s House Ways and Means Committee Markup of the Protecting Integrity in Medicare Act of 2015 (PIMA).

“This legislation provides the tools necessary to fight the up to $60 billion in fraud and abuse that impacts Medicare beneficiaries every year. NCHC urges the House and Senate to act quickly on this important legislation.

“PIMA is an example of what can be achieved when legislators from both parties stop arguing about health care costs, and actually do something about them. On issues like physician payment reform and children’s health coverage, we will need more such leadership very soon.”

The legislation incorporates elements from a number of other proposed bills including the Medicare PRIME Act which had previously been endorsed by NCHC. PIMA would

• Require a single national prescriber identifier for pharmacy claims to allow better tracking and identification of prescription drug diversion and fraud;
• Improve the Senior Medicare Patrol program which engages Medicare beneficiaries in reporting and combatting fraud;
• Incentivize state participation in the Medicare-Medicaid Data Match program, which allows authorities to better identify those perpetrating fraud across both programs; and
• Enable Medicare drug plans, for the first time, to establish pharmacy management programs designed to limit abuse or diversion of opioids and similar medications.

The legislation was co-sponsored by Ways and Means Health Sub-Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) and Ranking Member Jim McDermott (D-WA).”

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The National Coalition on Health Care (NCHC), the oldest and most diverse group working to achieve comprehensive health system reform, is a 501(c)(3) organization representing more than 80 participating organizations, including medical societies, businesses, unions, health care providers, faith-based associations, pension and health funds, insurers and groups representing consumers, patients, women, minorities and persons with disabilities. Member organizations collectively represent – as employees, members, or congregants – over 100 million Americans.

Some members of NCHC do not, or cannot, take positions either on specific legislation, strategies or on any policies outside their respective mission areas. However, all that can, do endorse broad policy positions in support of comprehensive health system change.