U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean’s bill to address fraud in the durable medical equipment (DME) system passed the House Ways and Means Committee on May 21. The legislation, H.R. 8871, known as the DME Scammer Prevention Act, aims to strengthen oversight and update claims processing requirements for Medicare.
The bill is intended to combat rising instances of fraud that impact both beneficiaries and taxpayers. According to Bean, “Rising fraud and criminal activity in the DME industry threaten to undermine our Medicare system and drive up costs. My bill will crack down on fraud, strengthen oversight, and ensure Medicare dollars are spent on legitimate patient care.”
Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith said, “Seniors pay into Medicare their whole lives, but foreign fraudsters and transnational criminal rings are treating their earned benefits like a blank check. Thanks to Representative Bean’s leadership, we’re making it harder for these bad actors to prey on seniors and get rich on the taxpayers’ dime and easier to stop fraud with digital tools. The DME Scammer Prevention Act modernizes Medicare fraud prevention so we can prevent scams, protect tax dollars, and preserve the benefits our seniors have earned.”
The legislation would require electronic submission of certain high-risk DME claims within 90 days of the initial claim date—a significant reduction from the current deadline of 365 days—which lawmakers say will limit opportunities for fraudulent vendors to exploit payment systems. It also directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review technology used by Medicare Administrative Contractors for screening claims.
Supporters argue that outdated systems—including paper-based processes—have enabled widespread fraudulent activity; more than 40,000 DME claims were submitted via paper or fax in just one year.
Bean has represented Florida’s 4th congressional district since replacing John Rutherford in 2023 according to Congress. He previously served in both chambers of Florida’s legislature according to the Florida Senate.
