CMS delays two anti-fraud projects

Modern Healthcare reports that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has put on hold its initiative targeting fraud related to power wheelchairs and its expansion of the Recovery Audit Contractors. Georgia Health News reports on how health care fraud has taken root in Georgia.

Modern Healthcare: CMS Holds Off On Two Anti-Fraud Projects
The CMS delayed two anti-fraud demonstration projects that drew heavy provider opposition after they were announced in November. The delay in implementing anti-fraud programs for power wheelchairs and an expansion of Recovery Audit Contractor authority stemmed from the large number of comments and suggestions the agency received regarding two of the programs, the CMS said in a notice on its website (Daly, 12/30).

Georgia Health News: Atlanta A New Hotbed For Medical Fraud
Many perpetrators have moved to Georgia from the south Florida area, where health care fraud has been rampant and has drawn a heavy crackdown from law enforcement. When she took the WellPoint job after spending 25 years with the FBI, "I was just amazed at the cases of fraud,"' says [fraud investigator Alanna] Lavelle, who is based in Atlanta (Miller, 12/30).