Roughly $48 billion in improper Medicare payments were dished out in FY 2010, and GAO has designated Medicare as a “high-risk program” due to its size, complexity and susceptibility to improper payments.
The GAO report also listed five strategies to help reduce fraud, waste and improper payments in Medicare:
• Strengthen provider enrollment standards and procedures.
• Improve prepayment reviews.
• Focus post-payment reviews on vulnerable areas.
• Improve oversight of contractors.
• Develop a robust process to address identified vulnerabilities.
Read the GAO report on improper Medicare payments (pdf).
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Big Changes Ahead: Medicare IPPS 2012 and What It Means for Hospitals
CMS Designs Two New Financial Models for Medicare, Medicaid Coordinated Care
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