ABC News recently ran a story about Medicare fraud involving home health care agencies and physicians in Texas. These agencies and physicians were fraudulently billing Medicare for hundreds of millions of dollars. They billed Medicare using the information from healthy senior citizens who did not qualify for home health services.
No services were provided by the agencies or the physicians, but they billed Medicare and received millions of dollars in reimbursement. Agencies and physicians like these give the many reputable home health care agencies a bad name.
Often when such news stories arise, reputable companies are lumped in with those committing fraud and are looked at as equally dishonest. As president/CEO of a local community-based home care agency, I would like to clear up this misconception and say I am appalled by what has happened and support any effort to confront agencies that are abusing the Medicare and Medicaid system and the patients we serve.
Home care is a cost-efficient, necessary health service involving close working relationships among honorable local physicians and passionate and caring staff, administrators and board members. I would like to assure our community that your local agencies and physicians represent the highest moral and ethical standards in serving some of our most dependent and vulnerable seniors. We take every step possible to provide our patients with excellent care to enhance the quality of life for them, their families and the communities in which they live.
Home care is clearly an integral part of the health care continuum, and while we need to confront the horrendous behaviors of a few, we need to also recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of the many.
Liz Powell
Butler
The writer is president and CEO of VNA, Western Pennsylvania (vna.com).
