(07-02) 04:00 PDT Washington -- Fraudulent Medicare billings submitted by medical equipment suppliers in the Los Angeles area and south Florida are the target of a pilot program to be announced today by the Department of Health and Human Services.
The two-year program, which was developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, will concentrate on fake bills or overcharges sent by suppliers of prosthetic limbs, orthotics, diabetic supplies and durable medical equipment, which includes such items as wheelchairs and nebulizers.
"In the Los Angeles area, there are over 4,800 durable medical equipment suppliers. Because there are so many suppliers and such a high number of beneficiaries, it creates an opportunity for this kind of fraud," said Kimberly Brandt, Medicare's director of program integrity.
The U.S. attorney in Los Angeles has a special unit of four prosecutors devoted to filing criminal cases, and the office uses civil lawsuits to seek reimbursements for improper billing.
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