Federal Government Will Review HMO Mailings

April 10, 2000

Federal Government Will Review HMO Mailings

A report in the March 19, 2000 edition of the New York Times states that "Medicare officials have accused health maintenance organizations of sending false information to their elderly subscribers in an effort to mobilize them to pressure Congress." Federal officials have begun demanding that HMOs submit newsletters and other documents to the government for review before sending them to Medicare beneficiaries.

Federal investigators say they have found evidence that HMOs have billed Medicare for some of their lobbying expenses, which is strictly prohibited by federal . . .