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).
Related Articles on Medicare Payments:
Debt-Ceiling Law Could Reduce Medicare Payments to Hospitals by $1.4M Per Year
Big Changes Ahead: Medicare IPPS 2012 and What It Means for Hospitals
CMS Designs Two New Financial Models for Medicare, Medicaid Coordinated Care
Becker’s 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit is the top tier event that the people leading the future of pharmacy convene. This 3-day event is built specifically for Chief Pharmacy Officers and senior pharmacy leaders. The sessions examine the workforce, financial and clinical priorities shaping pharmacy today. Becker’s is where candid discussions flourish and new ideas thrive. Becker's 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit
