CMS fights fraud in CA and FL

Reacting to the rampant medical equipment fraud that continues to dog the region, the CMS has announced that it is revoking the billing privileges of more than 1,100 medical equipment suppliers in Southern California and South Florida.

The agency also has suspended payments to some home-health agencies in the Miami-Dade area of Florida. Finally, it is also requiring certain medical equipment suppliers to post a surety bond of at least $50,000.

The bond must be posted by October 2, 2009 for existing suppliers, and newly enrolling suppliers must post a bond by May 4, 2009. The bonds are an attempt to limit Medicare's risk from fraudulent equipment suppliers.

To learn more about the new measures:
- read this Modern Healthcare piece

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