Klobuchar, Swanson promote anti-health-fraud measures

Two of Minnesota's top Democratic officials elected officials are calling for anti-fraud legislation to be included in any health care reform package passed by Congress.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar speaking Saturday morning along with Attorney General Lori Swanson at a senior center in Richfield, said she is supporting two recently introduced bills that would beef up enforcement and penalties for health care related fraud. At least one of the two bills has bipartisan support in the Senate.

Congress estimates that fraudulent schemes siphon between $70 billion and $200 billion a year from the health care system.

"This is one of the low hanging fruits - an easier way to bring some money back into the system," Klobuchar said. "I think citizens would be stunned if they knew how much money is going down the drain to fraud."