FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          AG
THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 1997                            (202) 616-2777
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

  STATEMENT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO ON HEALTH CARE FRAUD

     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- "Fighting health care fraud is one of this
Administration's highest priorities.  Health care fraud and abuse
costs Americans millions of dollars every year, degrades the
quality of our system, and hinders ordinary Americans from getting
the care they need.  

     "We have devoted more prosecutors and more FBI agents to
health care fraud than ever before.  The numbers of health care
fraud criminal and civil cases filed have risen dramatically. And
for the first time, we now have a health care fraud coordinator in
every United States Attorney's Offices in the country.  

     "The results are dramatic. The numbers of health care fraud
convictions have increased 270%; we have returned hundreds of
millions of dollars to Medicare and Medicaid and other health care
plans; and, thanks to global settlements across this country,
health care providers such as hospitals and laboratories are
implementing corporate integrity agreements to reduce fraud in the
future.   

     "But, we need everyone's help.  Across the country, the
Justice Department lawyers and FBI agents have sponsored public
education efforts aimed at health care consumers and providers.  

     "Ordinary Americans can make a difference by reporting health
care fraud to health insurance companies or law enforcement.  Many
of our cases came from Medicare beneficiaries or physicians who saw
a problem and acted.  In the next few months, the Department of
Justice will be renewing our efforts to educate the public, health
care consumers and providers alike that health care fraud is wrong
and that we can all do something about it." 

     
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97-095