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Capitol View®
Catharine Richert

Abeler targets Medicare fraud

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In an effort to distinguish himself from two other candidates for U.S. Senator, Rep. Jim Abeler, R-Anoka, says he has experience in health care policy to help solve a pressing problem: Medicare fraud.

"Our elected officials stand idle," Abeler said in a press conference. "Washington needs someone who understands the problem, knows how to solve it, and isn't afraid. I am the only one. [Sen. Al] Franken has no interest, and [Mike] McFadden doesn't have the knowledge or the skills."

Abeler is referring to new reports by the Center for Public Integrity (CPI) that estimate insurance companies participating in the Medicare Advantage program, a private form of Medicare, are overcharging the federal government by upwards of $70 million.

One story by CPI singles out Franken for lambasting insurance companies for overcharging for Medicare Advantage and lauding legislation that would cut payments for those patients. Ultimately, Franken was among Democrats who backed-off those cuts, according to CPI's reporting.

Abeler, who is running against GOP endorsed candidate McFadden in the August primary, wants the federal government to audit insurance company charges. He said that insurance companies have declined to make this information public in the past, claiming it is confidential.

"Concealing this information practically guarantees victimization through fraud and abuse," Abeler said.

But Abeler said he wasn't sure how the federal government could require health plans to share this information.

"I'm sure the president could give an executive order to make them do it. [The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid] could require it," Abeler said.

Franken and McFadden's campaigns didn't respond immediately for comment.

Here's a response from Franken's Senate spokesperson Ed Shelleby:

“In all Medicare policies, including Medicare Advantage, Senator Franken believes that seniors' access to quality must be the priority, and believes that Medicare should provide high-quality, affordable health care in the most efficient way possible—including the reduction of overpayments to insurance companies.”