Blue Cross of La. partnering with feds on ‘groundbreaking’ anti-fraud push

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana has is one of 21 partners selected to join what the Obama administration is calling “a groundbreaking partnership” between the government and private payers to fight healthcare fraud. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Attorney General Eric Holder laid out the framework today for the Federal Fraud Partnership, which agreement to work together and share information that could prevent and combat fraud. The voluntary, collaborative arrangement uniting public and private organizations is the next step in the government’s efforts to combat healthcare fraud and safeguard health care dollars to better protect taxpayers and consumers, say Sebelius and Holder in a joint statement. Building on existing tools provided by the Affordable Care Act, the plan calls for tougher sentences for people convicted of health care fraud; enhanced screenings of Medicare and Medicaid providers and suppliers; and suspended payments to providers and suppliers engaged in suspected fraudulent activity. The administration says its efforts to date have resulted in a record-breaking $10.7 billion in recoveries of healthcare fraud over the last three years. “We are honored that Blue Cross is seen by the highest-ranking officials in Washington as a major factor in the fight against healthcare fraud,” reads a statement from Mike Reitz, Blue Cross president and CEO, who was in Washington, D.C., today to help formally announce the plan. The New York Times has the full story on the new partnership here.