The Miami Herald is one news operation that truly understands the scope, breadth and nuances of Medicare fraud. The newspaper not only covers fraud issues, but does cutting-edge investigations and publishes thoughtful editorials. Like this one from yesterday titled Stop the Medicare Scams.

Focusing on the ridiculously corrupt home health system in South Florida — where average care costs $19,230 per patient compared to $635 in Chicago — the Herald says:

“It’s way past time to get serious about Medicare fraud, particularly as Congress considers healthcare reform. If Medicare is an example of how a public option for insurance might work, then the federal government must first clean up Miami-Dade, which has become ground zero for fraud.”

The editorial commends Medicare for instituting a 10 percent cap on home healthcare costs per patient. For diabetes patients alone, this will save $340 million in a year in Miami-Dade.

The editorial also touches on how the new fraud controls might impact honest providers and patients:

“Tougher scrutiny is warranted. The up-and-up providers that follow the rules and treat real patients will survive. For the others, good riddance.”