I have a number of questions for the record, Doctor.

The one thing everyone agrees on is that anti-fraud efforts have not begun to keep pace with the scope of the problem.

We know we have some difficult issues and difficult days ahead.

I look forward to working with you.

I mean, they're cheating some beneficiary that might be in need----

The Medicare trust fund is estimated to be exhausted in 2029.

If it's individual fraud, they ought to be prosecuted. If it's corporate fraud, they ought to be prosecuted, not just pay the fine.

The total Medicare expenditures were $509 billion in 2009, and because of an aging population and overall increases in medical costs, expenditures are projected to increase in future years at a faster pace than our economy.

A lot of it's basic--not basic for yesterday, but for tomorrow--information technology, the explosion is, and you're using those tools, are you not?

We in Congress have a responsibility to do whatever we can to prevent that from happening.

I want to thank you especially for calling this hearing to discuss how the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the DOJ fights fraud and waste in Medicare and Medicaid.

I'm glad to join you here as, you, the chairman of the subcommittee, and this is my first day as ranking member.