Complete Text of Report is available in PDF format (184 kb). Copies can also be obtained by contacting the Office of Public Affairs at 202-619-1343.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The objective of this audit was to determine the extent of ineligible Medicare Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) payments contained in our database of payments made under the administrative responsibility of Anthem Health Plans of Maine, Inc. (Anthem). We estimated that $1.8 million of ineligible SNF payments were made under the administrative responsibility of Anthem during calendar years 1997 through 2001. The overpayments occurred because of the absence of an automated cross-check, within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Common Working File and the Fiscal Intermediary’s claims processing systems, verifying that a three consecutive day inpatient hospital stay occurred prior to SNF admission.