The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that starting July 1, it will begin using innovative predictive modeling technology to fight Medicare fraud.

Medicare claims will be analyzed using innovative risk scoring technology that applies effective predictive models, an approach similar to that used by credit card companies, to successfully identify fraud. For the first time, CMS will have the ability to use real-time data to spot suspect claims and providers and take action to stop fraudulent payments before they are paid.

This initiative builds on the new anti-fraud tools and resources provided by the Affordable Care Act that are helping move CMS beyond its former "pay & chase" recovery operations to an approach that focuses on preventing fraud and abuse before payment is made.

"President Obama is committed to hunting down and eliminating waste, fraud and abuse throughout the federal government," said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "Our work to fight Medicare fraud is an important part of the Obama Administration's effort to root out wasteful spending and change the way government does business."

More information on the predictive modeling and HHS' effort to detect fraud and abuse are available www.HealthCare.gov/news/factsheets/fraud03152011a.html and through its news portal at www.HealthCare.gov, made available by the US Department of Health and Human Services.