Report: Fraudulent Medicare Claims Cost $1.2B in 2009
Medicare claims paid to deceased health care providers or for unnecessary medical treatments cost the program $1.2 billion in 2009, according to a report from the HHS Office of Inspector General. For the report, OIG analyzed the efficacy of several types of methods that private contractors have adopted to address fraudulent Medicare claims. Although officials were notified of the problems, 77% remained unresolved nearly two years later. CMS said it is addressing the vulnerabilities.
- "Study: Problems With Medicare Contractors Persist" (Kennedy, AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 12/16).