U.S. Reps. Peter Roskam (R-IL) and Robert Dold (D-IL) presented legislation last week that would update Medicare cards to safeguard seniors’ personal information and reduce Medicare fraud, a problem that costs taxpayers upwards of $60 billion per year.
“We have a responsibility to our seniors to advance commonsense steps like this to ensure Medicare remains solvent far into the future,” Roskam said. “Revolutionizing Medicare cards by installing smart chip technology will help prevent fraud and improper payments on the front end, and save this critical program billions of dollars annually. I am proud to partner with Congressman Dold in introducing this important legislation to fight Medicare fraud and ensure seniors receive the care they deserve.”
The Medicare Common Access Card Act of 2015 would secure the personal information of seniors by installing chip technology, similar to those issued by the Department of Defense, within Medicare cards. The congressmen made the announcement during a tour of Zebra Technologies, a technology company based in Lincolnshire, Illinois that is focused on solutions to streamline health care and enhance patient safety.
“Right now, Social Security numbers and other personal information are on the front of Medicare cards, leaving seniors at severe risk of identity theft,” Dold said. “This will protect our seniors from fraud and save taxpayers billions of dollars per year.”