On Wednesday, HHS unveiled details of a $2.1 billion initiative designed to recover improper Medicaid and Medicare payments from the previous five years. The initiative, led by Vice President Biden, is part of a broader government effort to reduce wasteful spending. The two programs are considered high-risk by the Government Accountability Office as they are more susceptible to fraud, waste, abuse and improper payments. In 2010, GAO reported that as much as $70 billion was lost through improper payments in the programs. Meanwhile, provisions to address waste and fraud in the federal health reform law are expected to generate about $6 billion in savings.