Grassley calls out HHS on response to genetic testing fraud after DOJ arrests

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, charged the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is taking the threat of Medicare fraud from genetic testing too lightly.

Grassley wrote to HHS leaders Tuesday, a few days after the Department of Justice (DOJ) charged 35 people in one of the largest healthcare fraud schemes ever. The scam centered on defrauding Medicare beneficiaries by offering free genetic tests then using their information to bill Medicare.

Grassley said he wrote to HHS and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) back in January after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report concerned about HHS’ ability to detect fraud in laboratory tests.