Pursuit's Take
GAO was asked to review the extent to which CMS is addressing improper payments in the MA program.
CMS conducts two types of risk adjustment data validation (RADV) audits to identify and correct MA improper payments: national RADV activities and contract-level RADV audits. Based on the most recent national audit, which reviewed 2013 payments, CMS released an Medicare Advantage improper payment estimate of 9.5 percent or $14.1 billion. CMS stated it had recovered about $14 million in improper payments from contract-level RADV audits of 2007 payments and may recover additional amounts depending on the adjudication of appeals filed by MA organizations challenging some of the audit findings. Since 2010, CMS has spent about $117 million on both types of audits.
Media Coverage
Washington Post: Taxpayers covered $14 billion in erroneous charges by private health plans paying for seniors’ care, report says
Center for Public Integrity: Auditors: feds failed to rein in billions in over-billing by Medicare Advantage
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