The U.S. House on June 19 approved legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-NJ) to ensure Medicare isn’t used as an illegal front for distributing prescription drugs in communities around the country.
“If a criminal is misusing a pharmacy to fraudulently bill Medicare and distribute prescription drugs, we must stop them in their tracks by cutting off funds,” said Rep. MacArthur, co-chair of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force. “This bill will help protect seniors from theft of their Medicare dollars.”
The Stop Excessive Narcotics In Our Retirement (SENIOR) Communities Protection Act of 2018, H.R. 5676, would authorize the suspension of payments to a pharmacy under the Medicare prescription drug benefit and Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans pending the investigation of a credible allegation of fraud by the pharmacy, according to the congressional record summary. A fraud hotline tip, without other evidence, may not be considered a credible allegation of fraud, according to the summary.
Some senior citizens have had their Medicare numbers stolen and then used to falsely bill Medicare for opioids, according to a statement from Rep. MacArthur’s office. This so-called “pill dumping” has resulted in millions of painkillers making their way into small towns through just a few pharmacies while Medicare foots most of the bill, according to the statement.
H.R. 5676 would ensure senior citizens “keep getting the medications they need, while empowering authorities to go after criminals who abuse Medicare to flood our communities with drugs,” said Rep. MacArthur.
“I am grateful to see this bill pass the House with overwhelming bipartisan support,” he added, referring to the House vote, 356-3. The U.S. Senate received H.R. 5676 on June 20 and has referred it to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee for consideration.