WILL, SKILL AND MORAL FIBER - SIMPLIFY AND END ABUSES (FROM SECRETARY'S NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FRAUD, ABUSE, AND ERROR - PROTECTING THE TAXPAYER'S DOLLAR, P 7-11, 1978 - SEE NCJ-68143)

• NCJ Number: 68144
• Author(s): R G HATCHER
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 5 pages
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: NCJ-68144 AVAILABLE ON MICROFICHE FROM NCJRS UNDER NCJ-68143.

Annotation

DESPITE RELATIVELY MINOR MONETARY LOSS FROM WELFARE PROGRAM ABUSE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL COMPARED WITH FEDERAL AGENCY WASTE AND BUSINESS FRAUD, ETC,. THE PROBLEM IS EXPLOSIVE AND CAN BE PARTLY ALLEVIATED BY REFORM.

Abstract

REGARDLESS OF THE EXTENSIVE FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE FOUND IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE (DHEW) BUDGET (APPARENTLY SOME $7 BILLION), FUNDS EXPENDED FOR VARIOUS FEDERAL PROGRAMS WHICH BENEFIT THE POOR, THE INNER CITIES, AND THE DISADVANTAGED ARE SPENT BECAUSE THEY MUST BE. CERTAINLY SUCH WASTE MUST BE ADDRESSED AND ELIMINATED; YET A CLOSE LOOK AT THE DHEW BUDGET SHOWS THAT THE PROBLEM IS ONLY PERIPHERALLY A PROBLEM OF LOCAL ENFORCEMENT. THE GREATER PART OF THE BUDGET WASTE DERIVES FROM HEALTH CARE OUTLAYS. ABOUT 1 BILLION TO ONE AND ONE HALF BILLION DOLLARS IN ERROR ARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE LOCAL LEVEL (FOR SOCIAL WELFARE), A DEGREE WHICH IS WITHIN NORMAL STATISTICAL PROPORTIONS. OF COURSE, EVEN THIS ERROR WHOULD BE AVOIDED IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY FOR POLITICAL REASONS IN THE AREA OF WELFARE. HOWEVER, THE SAME PEOPLE WHO RAVE ABOUT WELFARE FRAUD VIRTUALLY IGNORE EQUALLY ILLEGAL AND MUCH MORE EGREGIOUS FRAUD IN THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT OR IN THE PROFESSIONAL, CORPORATE, AND BUSINESS SIDE OF AMERICAN LIFE. THUS IT IS DIFFICULT TO MUSTER FORCE TO ATTACK FRAUD IN AREAS MOST CLOSELY RELATED TO THE NEEDS OF THE MOST HELPLESS IN AMERICAN SOCIETY, WHEN THOSE WHO ARE RICH AND POWERFUL LINE ALREADY WELL-LINED POCKETS WITH SUCH UNLAWFUL AND IMMORAL MEANS (E.G., HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS). NEVERTHELESS, ONE OF THE METHODS BY WHICH SOME WASTE COULD BE ELIMINATED IN THE AREA OF WELFARE FRAUD WOULD BE THROUGH WELFARE REFORM THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THE COMPLEX AND CONFUSING SYSTEM THROUGH WHICH APPLICANTS MUST WADE IN ORDER TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE. THIS COULD BE DONE BY PROVIDING CASH ASSISTANCE, A METHOD THAT HAS WORKED WELL IN GARY, IND. UNFORTUNATELY, WELFARE REFORM CARRIES WITH IT POLITICALLY UNATTRACTIVE CONNOTATIONS. POLITICAL LEADERS MUST JOIN TOGETHER IN FIGHTING THE WAR ON POVERTY, ILL HEALTH, AND IGNORANCE THAT ARE AT THE ROOTS OF THE NEED FOR WELFARE SYSTEMS; FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE WILL CEASE TO EXIST IF THE EXTENSIVE NEED FOR WELFARE IS ELIMINATED. (MHP)