WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator George LeMieux (R-FL) this week introduced a bill (Senate Bill 2128) aimed at preventing health care fraud. Among the provisions, Senator LeMieux proposes requiring background checks for new and existing health care providers and suppliers affiliated with federal health programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, implementing proven technologies to detect fraud in real-time before claims are paid, and appointing a Chief Health Care Fraud Prevention Officer within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) - to fight health care fraud nationwide.