Opinion Musk's DOGE granted access to US Medicare and Medicaid systems

[LeonardoBjj]

• DOGE representatives have been working at Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
• DOGE's access is "read-only," WSJ says
• CMS says has two agency veterans working with DOGE to ensure appropriate access to systems and technology

WASHINGTON, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Representatives of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency have been working at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services where they were granted access to agency systems and technology, CMS said on Wednesday.

CMS oversees Medicare, the health insurance program for older and disabled Americans, and Medicaid, for lower-income enrollees. Together they provide coverage for over 140 million people in the United States.

"CMS has two senior Agency veterans – one focused on policy and one focused on operations – who are leading the collaboration with DOGE, including ensuring appropriate access to CMS systems and technology," the agency said in a statement.

Musk, the world's richest man, has been tasked by U.S. President Donald Trump to identify fraud and waste in government. Musk has in a matter of days been able to exert unprecedented control over America's 2.2-million-member federal workforce and begin a dramatic reshaping of government.

"We are taking a thoughtful approach to see where there may be opportunities for more effective and efficient use of resources in line with meeting the goals of President Trump," the CMS statement said.

CMS regularly deals with improper payments that represent fraud or abuse but might also be due to a state, contractor, or provider missing an administrative step.

The development was first reported on Wednesday by the Wall Street Journal, which citing people familiar with the matter, said DOGE representatives had gained access to key payment and contracting systems.

The representatives have been on site at the agency's offices this week and are looking at the technology on which the systems run, as well as the spending that flows through them, with a focus on pinpointing what they consider fraud or waste, according to the report, opens new tab.
DOGE representatives are also examining the agency's organizational design and how it is staffed, the WSJ said.

Referencing the WSJ report, Musk - without providing evidence - posted "this is where the big money fraud is happening," on social media platform X, which he owns.

- I dont want to buy american secrets. It's all over the internet for free!

When asked about DOGE accessing CMS payment and contracting systems, representatives for the White House did not address specifics but defended Musk and DOGE's actions overall, saying they were fulfilling Trump's commitment to make the federal government more accountable.

One of the systems accessed by the DOGE representatives, the WSJ reported, is the CMS Acquisition Lifecycle Management system, which includes information about contracts.

The report, citing one of the people familiar with the DOGE's work at CMS, said that Musk's allies have not been given access to databases that include identifiable personal health information of Medicare or Medicaid enrollees.

The DOGE's access is "read-only," meaning that its affiliates cannot make changes to the systems, the WSJ reported.
The U.S. Treasury said on Tuesday that Musk's team has been granted "read-only access" to its payment system codes but denied that this cut off any government payments, including those of Social Security or Medicare.

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/do...payment-systems-fraud-wsj-reports-2025-02-05/

 

[I Am Legion]

Awesome, remove the waste, get rid of the grifters. Lots of crooked execs and politicians are shaking in their boots. We have been robbed for years, time to right the wrongs. Anyone that would be against this is part of the grift. Anyone that has ever worked for the Government or large corporations, know what is going on.

 

[sickc0d3r]

Confirmation bias looms…

 

[NoSmilez]

It's all fun and games until the elderly and less fortunate start losing their coverage.

 

[rearnakedchoke]

It’s funny how the low hanging fruit programs are the ones that impact the poor and old people.

I’m sure someone is deeply looking at ways they can get rid of tax loopholes that the rich have been taking advantage of for years so they can put a damper on that. I expect some news on that any day now.

 

[I Am Legion]

Awesome, remove the waste, get rid of the grifters. Lots of crooked execs and politicians are shaking in their boots. We have been robbed for years, time to right the wrongs. Anyone that would be against this is part of the grift. Anyone that has ever worked for the Government or large corporations, know what is going on.

It's all fun and games until the elderly and less fortunate start losing their coverage.

Why would they? Seriously, that is not what this is about at all. Getting rid of fraud, waste and abuse will open up more funds for deserving recipients.

 

[Andy Capp]

Awesome, remove the waste, get rid of the grifters. Lots of crooked execs and politicians are shaking in their boots. We have been robbed for years, time to right the wrongs. Anyone that would be against this is part of the grift. Anyone that has ever worked for the Government or large corporations, know what is going on.

Why would they? Seriously, that is not what this is about at all. Getting rid of fraud, waste and abuse will open up more funds for deserving recipients.

lol

 

[I Am Legion]

lol

As long as YOU disagree, I know I am on the right path. You were voted king of the dipshits (or poster that gets his ass handed to him in every thread), so being opposite of that is a win. ANYONE that would be against cutting out fraud (estimated 100 BILLION) is just a butthurt baby. This is a good thing for all Americans.

Why would anyone be against fixing this? It's unreal how stupid you are.
In fiscal year 2023, over $100 billion in improper payments were made in the Medicare and Medicaid programs12. The U.S. Government Accountability Office estimated $51.5 billion in improper payments for Medicare and $21 billion for Medicaid

 

[Andy Capp]

As long as YOU disagree, I know I am on the right path. You were voted king of the dipshits (or poster that gets his ass handed to him in every thread), so being opposite of that is a win. ANYONE that would be against cutting out fraud (estimated 100 BILLION) is just a butthurt baby. This is a good thing for all Americans.

Why would anyone be against fixing this? It's unreal how stupid you are.
In fiscal year 2023, over $100 billion in improper payments were made in the Medicare and Medicaid programs12. The U.S. Government Accountability Office estimated $51.5 billion in improper payments for Medicare and $21 billion for Medicaid

lol ok air soft


Tell me, when there is a government agency already aware of and working on the issue according to your own link, to wit,

"Medicare and Medicaid: Additional Actions Needed to Enhance Program Integrity and Save Billions​

Published: Apr 16, 2024. Publicly Released: Apr 16, 2024.",

what the fuck do you need DOGE for? Talk about unnecessary spending. Though, I suppose when you're given free reign to violate the law things can be done a little differently. The poor ol' GAO needs legislators on board for some things, "For example, we recommended that Congress take action..." So, again, what the fuck do you need DOGE for? The Republicans control all 3 branches of government. Why not just implement the recommendations that have already been made?

Further, they have already been taking action.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), within HHS, has taken several steps in response to GAO recommendations to help reduce improper payments in Medicare and Medicaid. These actions have resulted in billions of dollars in federal savings. For example:

• Improved fraud prevention in Medicare. CMS implemented capabilities that automatically stopped payments of certain improper and non-payable claims. These improvements generated an estimated almost $2 billion in savings over a 5-year period.
• Improved Medicaid managed care oversight. CMS worked with states and audit contractors to improve oversight. This included an exponential increase in investigations of managed care providers, from 16 in 2016 through 2018 to 893 in 2019 through 2021. Preliminary results indicate that the audits are identifying overpayments.

In the current fiscal environment, addressing improper payments and providing sufficient oversight of program spending, more generally, is particularly important. Federal spending for Medicare and Medicaid has grown by almost 80 percent over the past decade and growth in these and other health programs is projected to continue.

Edit: it gets even better,
"CMS has implemented dozens of GAO recommendations to improve Medicare and Medicaid. As of March 2024, over 100 recommendations to CMS remain unimplemented, including 15 related to improper payments." I note that they include underpayments as "improper payments" though the number of those is not specified.

And again, that's from your own source's source. So, what the fuck do you need DOGE for?

 

[idrankyourbeer]

the republicans are gonna gut your health insurance, social security, and public education funding. but this is what you wanted. this is what you voted for. hope it was worth it over the prospect of cheaper eggs. but it will all be worth retiring at the ripe old age of 85 just as long as you get some mean tweets out of it right? just try not to get sick or hurt or anything.

 

[Limbo Pete]

Ah yes, just what our country needed: the world's richest man given authority to kick people off Medicaid

 

[therealdope]

Awesome, remove the waste, get rid of the grifters. Lots of crooked execs and politicians are shaking in their boots. We have been robbed for years, time to right the wrongs. Anyone that would be against this is part of the grift. Anyone that has ever worked for the Government or large corporations, know what is going on.

Why would they? Seriously, that is not what this is about at all. Getting rid of fraud, waste and abuse will open up more funds for deserving recipients.

Medicare fraud is rife with providers billing the gov't for procedures they didn't do. There was a physician in Brooklyn billing procedures for people that were dead (happened around 2005).

Interestingly, I think they'll find less governmental fraud at CMS since CMS has a large effort to search out fraud among providers. I'd becurious to see if they uncover the names of providers that bilked the tax payer but their names are kept out of the limelight.

 

[CantCucktheTuck]

It's all fun and games until the elderly and less fortunate start losing their coverage.

medicare and medicaid pays healthcare providers.

 

[CantCucktheTuck]

about damn time someone looked at Medicare and Medicaid fraud. Enough with these "selective audits", where if you know the right people(donate to the right people), you don't get audited.

 

[Osculater]

Yes, yes, let's target the poor and the unfortunate because this is what Jesus would do

 

[CantCucktheTuck]

Yes, yes, let's target the poor and the unfortunate because this is what Jesus would do

This would be targeting healthcare providers and facilities. Medicare and Medicaid don't make direct payments to beneficiaries, that's a different department.

 

[Osculater]

This would be targeting healthcare providers and facilities. Medicare and Medicaid don't make direct payments to beneficiaries, that's a different department.

We will see

 

[Confucamus]

Why would they? Seriously, that is not what this is about at all. Getting rid of fraud, waste and abuse will open up more funds for deserving recipients.

Do you not know? Cutting down government overspending only shows how much of a racist Nazi xenophobe you are.

 

[nonoob]

Limbo Pete said: Ah yes, just what our country needed: the world's richest man given authority to kick people off Medicaid

Yes, yes, let's target the poor and the unfortunate because this is what Jesus would do

The View and MSDNC said "Osc and LimboPete , You Go Girls !"

 

[Osculater]

Limbo Pete said: Ah yes, just what our country needed: the world's richest man given authority to kick people off Medicaid


The View and MSDNC said "Osc and LimboPete , You Go Girls !"