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Date: Tuesday, June 27, 1995
For Release: Immediately
Contact: HHS Press Office (202) 690-6343

The toll-free hot line opened for business today at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477). The Department of Health and Human Services hot line will be located and staffed within the Office of Inspector General (OIG) and will operate from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., eastern time, Monday through Friday.

Secretary Shalala said the hot line represents another step in an effort to eliminate fraudulent or wasteful activities in the Medicare and Medicaid programs whose combined annual budgets exceed $265 billion.

Last month, President Clinton announced a partnership of federal and state agencies to crack down on Medicare and Medicaid fraud, waste and abuse associated with home health agencies, nursing homes and durable medical equipment suppliers. This tough new anti-fraud initiative is known as "Operation Restore Trust."

The targeted anti-fraud project is focused on the five states that have nearly 40 percent of all Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries -- New York, Florida, Illinois, Texas and California.

Millions of dollars are lost every year to health care fraud, waste and abuse. Therefore, Secretary Shalala said it is important that the public, including Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and medical providers in the private sector, participate in this fight.

The "HHS-TIPS" hot line accepts calls concerning alleged fraud against the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Written allegations and supporting documentation should be mailed to:

               Office of Inspector General
               Department of Health and Human Services
               HHS-TIPS HOT LINE
               P.O. Box 23489
               Washington, D.C.  20026