HHS OIG Report Finds Part D Private Insurers Overcharged for Billions, Lack of CMS Oversight

February 3, 2009 by Conrad Dillon · Leave a Comment
Filed under: CMS, Drug Pricing, Drugs & Medical Devices, HHS

Christopher Crumpet's Playmate (1955 UPA), Courtesy of Cartoonmoderntumblr.com

According to a recent report by the Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General, private insurance companies that operate plans under the Medicare prescription drug benefit have overcharged Medicare beneficiaries and the program by several billion dollars since the program began in 2006.

According to the report, 80% of health insurers that operate plans under the Medicare prescription drug benefit overcharged the program by about $4.4 billion in 2006 alone. In addition, The McClatchy/Raleigh News & Observer reports that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) remains unaware of the total impact of the practice because of its failure to perform required audits.

Tags: 2003 Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement Act, Claire McCaskill, CMS, Cost Control, Drug & Device, Fraud & Abuse, Government Agencies, Governmental Reports, Health Care Reform, Health Law, HHS, Medicare, Medicare Part D, National Newspapers & Media, Prescription Drugs, Private Insurance

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