Antelope Valley Today

Congressman Mike Garcia’s (CA-27) Medicare and Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act, co-led by Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA-50), has passed the U.S. House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support. The legislation aims to strengthen Medicare and Medicaid by preventing fraudsters from exploiting deceased providers' National Provider Identifiers (NPIs) to bill these programs fraudulently.

“Since day one of representing my constituents, I have promised to never vote to cut Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid, and this bill reflects that commitment,” said Rep. Garcia. “Medicare and Medicaid are more than just programs—they’re a contract with the American people. This legislation ensures that the resources in these programs are used for those who need them, not for scammers.”

“Fraud in Medicare and Medicaid hurts the rightful beneficiaries of those programs and all taxpayers,” said Rep. Peters. “Our bipartisan bill will prevent one of the most egregious forms of fraud in our healthcare system. As we work to put our country on a better fiscal path and tackle our enormous debt, we must do everything we can to stop taxpayer dollars from being misspent. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to quickly take up our legislation and provide this commonsense reform.”

The Medicare and Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act is a step toward ensuring the long-term solvency of these programs. By preventing fraudulent billing, this bill aims to save millions of taxpayer dollars and protect Medicare and Medicaid for future generations.

“This isn’t just about stopping fraud—it’s about keeping our promise to American seniors and families,” said Rep. Garcia. “These programs are lifelines for millions, and we need to ensure they remain viable for years to come. I’m proud to lead this effort to safeguard them.”

Rep. Garcia urges the Senate to act swiftly and pass this critical legislation to continue the fight against Medicare and Medicaid fraud.