Duval Times

Senator Rick Scott has reintroduced the Leveraging Integrity and Verification of Eligibility for Beneficiaries (LIVE Beneficiaries) Act. The proposed legislation aims to mandate that states verify quarterly whether Medicaid beneficiaries are still alive, in an effort to prevent payments from being made for deceased enrollees. Congressman Gus Bilirakis is leading this bipartisan initiative in the House of Representatives.

Senator Scott emphasized the need for accountability, stating, "Washington has spent too long failing Americans with its dysfunction, shown clearly by government’s complete complacency with wasting tens of millions of taxpayer dollars each year writing Medicaid checks to people who have died simply because they haven’t checked if they’re alive. That’s unacceptable and a complete disappointment to taxpayers and those who rely on this program’s benefits when they need it most."

He added that while efforts are being made by President Trump and his administration to improve government efficiency, Congress also needs to act. "Our bill, the LIVE Beneficiaries Act will require states to verify that a beneficiary is alive before they send a payment. This is common sense and a practical step to cut down on improper payments and ensure tax dollars are spent wisely," he said.

Congressman Bilirakis echoed these sentiments: “As we work to ensure the long-term solvency of critical safety net programs, like Medicaid and Medicare, we have an obligation to ensure we are serving as good stewards of taxpayer dollars. This means we must prevent fraud, waste, and abuse whenever possible."

Bilirakis believes that by implementing straightforward measures such as those outlined in the bill, these essential programs can be fortified to fulfill their purpose effectively: "By implementing simple safeguards like the ones in this bill, we can strengthen these programs and help ensure they are meeting their intended purpose of providing access to quality care for our most vulnerable citizens."

The full text of the bill is available for public review.