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Gingrich: Waxman Lets Health Care Fraud Flourish

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 24, 2009 10:52 AM CDT
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(Newser) – America’s health care system is riddled with so much fraud that eliminating it would pay for universal coverage, but Congress doesn’t seem to care, writes Newt Gingrich in the Washington Examiner. He singles out as his particular villain Henry Waxman, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Waxman, he charges, hasn’t held a single hearing to look into Medicaid fraud, even though the GAO says $32.7 billion worth of Medicaid payments were improper in 2007.

Waxman’s fought every effort to introduce market-oriented bidding into Medicare, or to make the health care system more transparent. He even fought to add a provision to the stimulus bill that would eliminate citizenship, identity, and income verification requirements for Medicaid, “in hopes of ensuring that millions of illegal aliens would receive taxpayer-funded healthcare services.” His health care bill contains similar provisions, says Gingrich. No wonder he’s having trouble getting it out of committee.

Henry Waxman speaks after he and other Blue Dog Democrats met with President Barack Obama in this July 21, 2009 file photo.
Henry Waxman speaks after he and other Blue Dog Democrats met with President Barack Obama in this July 21, 2009 file photo.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich speaks at a Republican congressional fundraiser, Monday, June 8, 2009, in Washington.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich speaks at a Republican congressional fundraiser, Monday, June 8, 2009, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
In this Dec. 9, 2008 file photo, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., waits to start a hearing on Capitol Hill.
In this Dec. 9, 2008 file photo, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., waits to start a hearing on Capitol Hill.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 14 comments
Fondue
Jul 25, 2009 1:18 AM CDT
Well, that's not the only reason stamp prices are up.
JonmarkP
Jul 24, 2009 10:18 AM CDT
Gingrich never, ever speaks the truth. He's one of those Bush style psychos who defines "the truth" as anything coming out of his mouth. It's one of the reasons they're such effective liars-they don't feel any shame while lying.
Yourself
Jul 24, 2009 8:28 AM CDT
get over the teleprompter issue. every president in modern history has used it for all of their speeches, every newsanchor and tv host has as well.. so drop it already, it's a stale and useless argument..... with that said, a proper medical system would not bankrupt this country, the current system is already doing that. people can't afford to keep paying the rates that the insurance companies are demanding. this is the only country where one can go bankrupt due to medical bills, don't you see something wrong with that? or are you too damn busy talking about teleprompters to look at the facts that really matter to the american people?!?!?

 
Newt Gingrich • Henry Waxman • Medicare • House of Representatives • Medicaid • health care reform

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