Audit Accuses UCSF of Improper Medicare Billing
The University of California-San Francisco "inappropriately" overbilled Medicare allegedly by overstating its costs to train dental students and will have to repay the federal government $3.9 million, according to an audit by the HHS inspector general's office, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
According to the audit, UCSF overbilled Medicare from fiscal year 2000 through FY 2002 by counting students even when the university did not fully incur their training costs. The audit recommends that UCSF file an amended report, repay the money and develop and follow a written procedure to prevent a reoccurrence.
UC officials disputed the audit and said, "The OIG's position is completely untenable and unsupported by any evidence or analysis," adding that the "OIG has not analyzed UCSF's facts under the correct legal standard, has not properly understood and characterized UCSF's facts, and has not properly implemented the stated policy" of CMS (Schevitz, San Francisco Chronicle, 8/8).