1.  Patty Duke reprises Patty and Cathy Lane for new Retire Online campaign.

Michael Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, and Patty Duke, Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Emmy winning actress, unveiled Social Security's new online retirement application and launched the agency's Retire Online campaign. 

Featuring cousins Patty and Cathy Lane from the hit 1960s sitcom, "The Patty Duke Show," the campaign will let Americans know that it's now easier than ever to retire online at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/.

"I'm thrilled that Patty Duke has volunteered to help us promote retiring online," Astrue said.  "Filing online means there's no need to drive to a local Social Security office or wait for an appointment with a Social Security representative."

Duke said, ""Like millions of other baby boomers, I like to spend time with my grandchildren, travel, or just relax with a good book.  And I love the convenience of doing things online.  Social Security has made applying for retirement benefits online easier than ever before.  It's so easy!"

To view the new public service announcements featuring Patty Duke as cousins Patty and Cathy Lane, click on http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/psa-video.html

2.  Medicare issues rule requiring surety bonds for medical suppliers to fight home health fraud.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it is requiring certain durable medical equipment suppliers to post a $50,000 surety bond.  In addition, CMS is announcing that it has revoked the billing privileges of more than 1,100 medical equipment suppliers in south Florida and southern California. 

Kerry Weems, Acting Administrator of CMS, said, "We know the majority of medical equipment suppliers and health care providers want to improve the health of Medicare beneficiaries, but we also know there are those who look for any opportunity to take advantage of beneficiaries and Medicare."

Under the new regulations, existing suppliers must comply with the bonds by October 2, 2009, while newly enrolling suppliers must meet this requirement by May 4, 2009.  

This requirement was due in part to the large number of improper and potentially fraudulent payments to medical equipment suppliers for furnishing medical equipment and devices to Medicare recipients.  The 2007 Medicare error rate report found approximately $1 billion in improper payments for medical equipment and supplies. 

The surety bond requirement is designed to limit the Medicare program risk from fraudulent equipment suppliers and help to ensure that only those suppliers who remain in the program furnish items to Medicare beneficiaries that are considered reasonable and necessary from legitimate suppliers.

Certain physicians and non-physician practitioners, physical and occupational therapists, state-licensed orthotic and prosthetic personnel, and government-owned suppliers will be exempt from the surety bond requirement.

More information about the new regulation can be found at www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicareProviderSupEnroll.