Watchdog Report Sharply Criticizes Fed’s Efforts To Recoup Medicare Advantage Overcharges
The Government Accountability Office said that the Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services has spent about $117 million on Medicare Advantage overbilling audits, but so far has recouped just $14 million.
NPR/Center for Public Integrity:
GAO Audit: Feds Failed To Rein In Medicare Advantage Overbilling
Private Medicare Advantage plans treating the elderly have overbilled the government by billions of dollars, but rarely been forced to repay the money or face other consequences for their actions, according to a congressional audit released Monday. In a sharply critical report, the Government Accountability Office called for "fundamental improvements" to curb overbilling by the health plans, which are paid more than $160 billion annually. The privately run health plans, an alternative to traditional fee-for-service Medicare, have proven popular with seniors and have enrolled more than 17 million people. The plans, which were the subject of a Center for Public Integrity investigation, also enjoy strong support in Congress. (Schulte, 5/9)