That finding comes from an audit of payments MassHealth made to physicians in 2013 and 2014.
According to the report, MassHealth paid $476,787 for services and prescriptions to 19 different physicians who are disallowed by federal law from participating in the program. Of the total payments, auditors found $50,682 were paid for pharmacy claims for prescriptions that included opiate, amphetamines and other controlled substances.
Providers can be excluded from the program for several reasons, including convictions related to patient abuse and healthcare fraud. The audit did not specify why the 19 providers had been barred.
In response to the audit, MassHealth officials said they have created a workgroup to address payment processes.
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