HHS/OIG, Audit - "Review of High-Dollar Payments for Medicare Part B Claims Processed By National Government Services for New York Providers for the Period January 1, 2003, Through December 31, 2005," (A-02-07-01043)

Department of Health and Human Services

Office of Inspector General -- AUDIT

"Review of High-Dollar Payments for Medicare Part B Claims Processed By National Government Services for New York Providers for the Period January 1, 2003, Through December 31, 2005," (A-02-07-01043)

April 22, 2008

Complete Text of Report is available in PDF format (325 kb). Copies can also be obtained by contacting the Office of Public Affairs at 202-619-1343.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Ninety-four of the one hundred sampled high-dollar Medicare Part B payments ($10,000 or more) that National Government Services made to providers during calendar years (CY) 2003�05 were appropriate. However, National Government Services overpaid providers $39,196 for the remaining six payments. Providers refunded two overpayments totaling $30,075 and partially refunded one overpayment ($7,707 of $7,837) prior to the end of our fieldwork. Four overpayments totaling $1,414 remained outstanding. National Government Services, the Medicare Part B carrier for about 48,000 providers in 16 southeastern New York counties, made 942 high-dollar payments in CYs 2003�05.

We recommended that National Government Services (1) recover the $1,414 in overpayments, (2) review the remaining 842 high-dollar claims processed during CYs 2003�05 and work with the providers that claimed these services to recover any overpayments, (3) consider identifying and recovering any additional overpayments made for high-dollar Part B claims paid after CY 2005, and (4) use the results of this audit in its provider education activities. National Government Services agreed with our recommendations.