More seniors aging in place has spurred an increased in physician house calls, and in Michigan, this shift has also triggered more instances of Medicare fraud, reports USA Today.
While doctors’ visits to patients’ homes can help reduce the likelihood of costlier hospital stays, some have argued that Michigan’s lax regulations have led to a surge in false Medicare claims billing from providers who are exploiting the system.
“It’s bad,” says U.S. Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell in the article on the prevalence of fraud in home care. “And it’s just an easier thing to do in Michigan than in other states.”
Health practitioners in Michigan received more than $39 million in Medicare payments for home visits in 2012, more than 42 other states combined, according to data compiled by USA Today from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Furthermore, 14 doctors in the state have been indicted in recent years in fraud cases involving home visits.
Read more at USA Today.
Written by Jason Oliva
