By James Call
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-883781.mp3
Tallahassee, FL –
The head of an association for managed care organizations suggests he can save the state billions of dollars. He told a House workshop the private sector would do a better job fighting Medicaid fraud and abuse.
Michael Gardner is president of the Florida Association of Health Plans. He testified at a workshop on Medicaid that a managed care model has cut Medicaid costs in other states from five to forty-percent. He says some of the savings come from fighting fraud and abuse. Gardner says those are activities that eat into a managed care plan's profit.
"We have those techniques, and we use them all the time, primarily to make sure that we can best use those dollars you are giving us, for us to be stewards of those dollars, to go out and make sure that the patients are getting the care they need. So, we have every incentive to go and make sure that we tackle that issue."
Florida's Office of Government Accountability estimates about $2-billion a year is lost through Medicaid fraud. Economists say the growing cost of the program contributes to the state's budget problems.