Low hanging fruit for Representative Ryan and Senator Murray

October 8, 2013, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs reports $4.5M in fraudulent disability claims due to collusion by a judge, an attorney and multiple doctors.

November 1, 2013, the Office of the Inspector General reports the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services paid $23M for deceased beneficiaries between 2009 and 2011.  This accounts for less than one-tenth of one percent of total payments.

September 14, 2013 General Accountability Office reports from December 2010 - January 2013 36,000 beneficiaries received improper disability pay in the amount of $1.3B.  This accounts for less than one percent of beneficiaries and disability payments during the time frame.

Representative Paul Ryan and Senator Patty Murray are leading a group of legislators trying to come up with a budget deal prior to the next fiscal deadline.  Much talk has been about increasing revenues, cutting budgets or reforming “entitlement” programs.  While reforming Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are necessary, these headlines show reform has many forms.  Before cutting payouts, Representative Ryan and Senator Murray should look into increasing funding to these institutions.

It may seem counterintuitive to increase funding when trying to decrease the budget, but funds to increase systems to reduce improper payments would save much more than their cost.  Improved databases, applications and training can prevent the above from occurring with such regularity.  Increased tracking and investigation could uncover devious plots to take advantage of a system designed to support those who need it the most.

With that, significant reductions in outlays could be achieved without reducing benefits to those that need them the most.  When dealing with budgets in the billions, it is easy to lose sight of $4M or $23M being lost without keeping focus on the fact these are very large numbers.  One can find the evidence of this loss of focus can be seen in the reference to one-tenth of one percent of total payments.  Before cutting benefits to seniors, active duty military and single mothers, Representative Ryan and Senator Murray can attack some low hanging fruit.