"This hearing is really an important opportunity to discuss ways to strengthen two critically important government programs that serve over a hundred million Americans: Medicare and Medicaid."
"I think we all agree we need to reduce waste, fraud and abuse."
"earlier this year the House passed H.R. 3716, the Ensuring Access to Quality Medicaid Providers Act which our own Representative Bucshon and Welch co-sponsored."
"I find it very abusive of the witnesses and I just, I think that is really objectionable."
"Frequently here in Congress we try to get our government agencies to act like private businesses and it doesn't always translate a hundred percent."
"The idea that error rates or improper payments are associated with these programs is not new."
"One of the problems that we have had as we heard from the OIG is that the states with respect to Medicaid have not fully implemented provider screening tools."
"Keeping fraudulent and unscrupulous providers out of the program has been a longstanding challenge."
"if there is something your agency thinks Congress can be doing to help this nudge this along we are happy to do it."
"Now you heard a lot of concerns on both sides of the aisle today, Dr. Agrawal, about this increasing number for the inaccurate or improper payments."
"I support evidenced-based policy making and am very encouraged that we are having ongoing research to better understand brain trauma."