Government, Insurers Share Data on Suspect Bills

The Obama administration has announced a new public-private partnership aimed at fighting health care fraud.
 
The plan calls for the government to join forces with private insurers and state investigators on a scale not previously seen in an attempt to stop tens of billions of dollars in losses.
 
White House officials say data from Medicare, Medicaid and private health plans will be compared to look for suspicious patterns and other evidence that might indicate fraud.
 
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius (seh-BEEL'-yuhs) says fraudsters have used the fragmented health care system to their advantage, and sharing information across payers is a way to stop it.
 
The agreement is unusual because it brings the Obama administration and longtime foes in the insurance industry together to tackle a common problem.
 
The CEO of America's Health Insurance Plans, one of the industry groups backing the partnership, says it will make it "a great deal harder to prey upon the public."