Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio) Senate committee investigators find some doctors and dentists collecting huge sums for Medicare and Medicaid plans. Senator Russell Long runs hearing.
REPORTER: David Brinkley

(DC) Director Internal Revenue says he'll audit tax return of every doctor who gets more than $50,000. General Accounting Office auditors tell of Cook Cnty. Hospital Association which bills federal government $160,000 for work done by interns. [Department of Health, Education and Welfare Health Ins. Director Thomas TIERNEY - says will study fraud; but money so far has gone into education fund, not doctors' own pockets.] [LONG - says some will be in jail for fraud. There's overcharging, if not legal fraud. They've found way to bill programs and increase their costs.] 1 reason for increases is that health insurance companies aren't policing programs. Costs $5 billion more than estimated.
REPORTER: Douglas Kiker

(Studio) No public findings on doctor's overcharging yet. Report on doctor who collected $152,000 last year for Medicare.
REPORTER: David Brinkley

(Los Angeles, California) Dr. Burt Ducote practices in Watts. [DUCOTE - sees 70-80 patients daily. Not overpaid; works hard. Pays $50,000 in income taxes. Couldn't do this without programs. Govt. knows care costs above 1st estimate. Doctors are scapegoats.]
REPORTER: Jack Perkins