May 20, 2009
Contact: AARP Media Relations, 202-434-2560, media@aarp.org
WASHINGTON—AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond released the following statement on today’s announcement on the creation of the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team by the departments of Health and Human Services and Justice.
“The skyrocketing costs of health care are hurting Americans’ wallets and the bedrock programs like Medicare that millions of Americans depend on. Too much of that spending is lost to health care fraud. We simply cannot afford to pay for care that is never delivered and equipment that is not needed.
“AARP applauds Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Attorney General Eric Holder for their new effort to crack down on health care fraud throughout Medicare and Medicaid. The Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team will help stop the fraud and prosecute the criminals that are costing consumers and our public health programs billions of dollars each year.”
As a part of its Health Action Now campaign, AARP is fighting to strengthen and improve Medicare for the millions of Americans who depend on it. That effort includes cutting the billions of dollars lost annually to Medicare fraud, waste and abuse.
For details on AARP’s health reform priorities, contact AARP's Media Relations office.
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 35.5 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
