Fraud, waste, and abuse are significant problems in both the Social Security and Medicare programs, and TSCL believes that the government is not administering the necessary oversight to ensure that scarce program dollars are being spent properly.

By increasing efforts to fight fraud, the government could save tens of billions of dollars each year, reducing the need for reforms that could negatively impact beneficiaries.

Fraud within Medicare costs the federal government an estimated $60 billion to $90 billion each year, and according to the Attorney General’s office, enforcement efforts have yielded an impressive return on investment for the American taxpayer. For every dollar spent fighting fraud, approximately $7 has been recovered and returned.

Social Security’s Disability Insurance program is also littered with waste. In recent years, an enormous backlog of Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) has accumulated, and increased funding could result in significant savings for the Social Security program.

It is well understood that the failure to manage fraud results in higher taxes for all and higher premiums for Medicare beneficiaries. TSCL urges lawmakers to increase preventive efforts in order to ensure that scarce program dollars are appropriately spent.

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