I think you are both equally right and wrong at same time. ABC’s mandate is not to prevent
“fraud and abuse”, but rather to insure that certified practitioners meet a minimum standard
established to protect the patient. I realize the Code of Ethics speaks to honor and deceit,
but that is not the prime objective for ABC. Let the Justice Department go after the cheats.
Fraud and abuse should be dealt with using the existing laws and by putting controls on who
is able to obtain a provider number. Frankly, Medicare’s concern is primarily the
administration of government funds not the welfare of the patient. They could do both if
they were to support and help pass the Wexler bill. Requiring providers to be educated and
trained, as well as financially responsible to HCFA, raises the bar to a minimal level of
care while ensuring that providers have a substantial investment to protect.
You cannot legislate morality, but you can make the availability of Federal funds more
difficult to acquire and available only to those who have invested a significant amount of
time and effort to acquire an education and training.
[email protected] wrote:
> Bob,
>
> First of all, I don’t know how you came to such a conclusion based on what I
> wrote. But, If you do want to know what I think about it, I will tell you:
> Fraud and abuse has increased since HCFA allowed non-ABC certified
> individuals use of the L-codes ( I believe back in 1994.) I don’t deny that
> some ABC practitioners are guilty of it, but, it stands to reason that the
> recent 3-4 year propelling increase of fraud and abuse can only be the result
> of those less qualified and those with no qualifications abusing the system.
>
> Paul
>
> “Do you think BOC is the major “enemy” in the fraud and abuse battle? My
> sense is that there are a lot of folks that don’t even have the BOC
> credential that are ripping off the system and messing it up for the good
> guys. More disturbing are the reports for ABC-certified folks that I hear
> at every meeting we have on fraud and abuse that suggest that some of our
> folks are guilty of the same stuff.”
>
> Bob
>
> Robert T. Van Hook, CAE
> E
>
>
