Harry Reid: “I rise in support of S. 2040 the Senior Citizens Protection Act introduced by Senator Baucus earlier this morning. I am…”

“I rise in support of S. 2040 the Senior Citizens Protection Act introduced by Senator Baucus earlier this morning. I am pleased to be an original cosponsor on this important legislation. There are 47 federally certified Medicaid Fraud Control Units across the country. Since the program began in 1978, more than 8,000 cases have been prosecuted. They do an excellent job. Millions of dollars have been returned as a result of their work. The 'Senior Citizens Protection Act of 1998' makes two very simple changes to Medicaid Fraud Control Unit authority. First it gives MFCU's the authority to investigate violations in our federal health programs--primarily Medicare in addition to their current authority to investigate violations in Medicaid. Secondly, the bill would enable MFCU's to investigate patient abuse and neglect in residential health care facilities that do not receive Medicaid reimbursement. In short the bill has two goals: to stop health care fraud and to protect vulnerable seniors.”