In a move to reduce improper Medicaid payments and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently, Senator Rick Scott today announced the reintroduction of the Leveraging Integrity and Verification of Eligibility for Beneficiaries (LIVE Beneficiaries) Act.
The proposed legislation would require states to verify, on a quarterly basis, that recipients of Medicaid benefits are alive before issuing payments, thereby preventing funds from being sent to insurance companies for deceased enrollees.
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“Washington has spent too long failing Americans with its dysfunction, shown clearly by the government’s complete complacency with wasting tens of millions of taxpayer dollars each year writing Medicaid checks to people who have died simply because they haven’t checked if they’re alive,” said Senator Scott. “That’s unacceptable and a complete disappointment to taxpayers and those who rely on this program’s benefits when they need it most. While President Trump and his team are hard at work making our government more efficient, Congress must take action, too. Our bill, the LIVE Beneficiaries Act, will require states to verify that a beneficiary is alive before they send a payment. This is common sense and a practical step to cut down on improper payments and ensure tax dollars are spent wisely.”
The measure has garnered support in both chambers of Congress. Congressman Gus Bilirakis, leading the legislation in the House of Representatives, emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of critical safety-net programs like Medicaid and Medicare.
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“As we work to ensure the long-term solvency of these programs, we have an obligation to serve as good stewards of taxpayer dollars,” Bilirakis stated. “By implementing simple safeguards like those proposed in this bill, we can strengthen these programs and help ensure they are meeting their intended purpose of providing access to quality care for our most vulnerable citizens.”
The LIVE Beneficiaries Act aims to address long-standing concerns about fraud, waste, and abuse within Medicaid by instituting regular checks on beneficiary eligibility.
Advocates argue that the proposed quarterly verification process will help state agencies detect and prevent improper payments, ultimately saving millions of dollars annually and preserving funds for those in need.
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