Pasco Reporter

Representatives Gus Bilirakis and Angie Craig have reintroduced the Leveraging Integrity and Verification of Eligibility for Beneficiaries Act. This legislation aims to address improper Medicaid payments made on behalf of deceased enrollees. An audit by the HHS Office of Inspector General revealed over $249 million in improper payments to Managed Care Organizations across 14 states.

The proposed bill requires states to check the Social Security Administration’s Death Master File database quarterly. This measure ensures that Medicaid patients are not deceased and remain properly enrolled. If discrepancies arise, state Medicaid programs must remove deceased beneficiaries from their rolls, preventing MCOs from billing for individuals who have passed away. Senator Rick Scott has introduced a companion bill in the U.S. Senate.

"As we work to ensure the long-term solvency of critical safety net programs, like Medicaid and Medicare, we have an obligation to ensure we are serving as good stewards of taxpayer dollars," said Congressman Gus Bilirakis. "This means we must prevent fraud, waste, and abuse whenever possible."

"Minnesotans deserve to know that their tax dollars are being spent as they were intended," stated Rep. Angie Craig. "That’s why I’m proud to lead this commonsense bipartisan bill with Rep. Bilirakis."