Congressman Aaron Bean | Aaron Bean Official Website
Congressman Aaron Bean | Aaron Bean Official Website
U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean has introduced a new bill aimed at tackling Medicare and Medicaid fraud. The legislation, known as the Medical License Verification Act, seeks to address loopholes that have allowed non-physicians to bill health insurance companies improperly. This initiative is aligned with a similar proposal by Senator Rick Scott of Florida.
Currently, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issue National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers without verifying the licensure information submitted by applicants. This practice has made it possible for individuals without proper medical credentials to obtain NPI numbers and potentially commit fraud against commercial health insurance providers.
Congressman Bean emphasized the importance of this measure: “Millions of Floridians rely on Medicare and Medicaid, but rising fraud and abuse threatens to undermine these programs and drive-up healthcare costs. This bill represents a small and commonsense step to protect our healthcare programs and prevent bad actors from defrauding Florida families.”
The proposed act would require CMS to confirm that an applicant's medical license is valid before issuing an NPI number. This verification process is intended to safeguard healthcare programs from fraudulent activities.
The Medical License Verification Act has received support from organizations such as Americans for Prosperity and the Council of Affordable Health Coverage.
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