Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Palm Desert, announced on Monday new legislation designed to protect older people from healthcare fraud.
Ruiz made the announcement Nov. 25 at Mizell Senior Center in Palm Springs. The Protecting Seniors from Healthcare Fraud Act of 2013 "aims to educate seniors on the most common healthcare fraud schemes to help them avoid falling victim to fraud, and to encourage them to report fraud to law enforcement,'' according to Ruiz's staff.
The legislation requires the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice to work with federal agencies to compile a report with policy recommendations on the most common healthcare schemes and to mail older people a list of the top 10 schemes.
"The best way to protect seniors from healthcare fraud in the Coachella Valley and across the country is to ensure they have the tools to stop criminals before they are able to get the senior's information in the first place," Ruiz said. "My bill is designed to provide more information on ways criminals are working to defraud seniors through healthcare scams to bring criminals to justice."
Later Monday, Ruiz was planning to host a Covered California info session at Our Lady of the Valley Roman Catholic Church, 780 South State St. in Hemet, according to his staff.
Reported by City News Service
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