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With government spending on Medicare and Medicaid programs skyrocketing, their futures are questionable. Many politicians and political pundits are calling for intense oversight of these agencies to reduce fraud and abuse in the system and, consequently, rein in costs. Many medical providers' fraudulent behaviors, which cost the medical community billions of dollars, stem from prescribing of pharmaceutical drugs to treat an illness or injury. Although this is part of the job of providers, some allow kickbacks from pharmaceutical companies or patient requests to cloud their clinical judgment. This article identifies several options for increased enforcement of laws concerning Medicaid and Medicare fraud and abuse of drug benefits, with great emphasis placed on the Integrated Data Repository currently under development by the federal government.

This study examined the extent to which self-perceived work-related skills and barriers to employment are associated with current employment status among a sample of recipients of Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF). The degree to which these perceptions differed between chronic drug using and non-using women in the sample was then assessed. The probability of employment was significantly affected by conceptions of self-competencies and barriers faced. Chronic drug use independently further reduced the chances of employment. Policy implications for TANF's mandatory work requirements are discussed in light of these findings.