CMS proposes overpayment discovery process changes

17 February 2012

Earlier in the week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed that providers and suppliers must report and return self-identified overpayments either within 60 days of the incorrect payment being identified or on the date when a corresponding cost report is due, whichever is later. This decision was made in an effort to protect taxpayer dollars and prevent overpayments from occurring.

CMS is also having private auditors working on behalf of Medicare catch wasteful spending by expanding the use of Recovery Audit Contractors, testing changes to outdated hospital billing systems to help prevent over-billing and changing processes for approving payments for medical equipment with high error rates.

Visit the Federal Register to read the proposed rule that would require providers and suppliers receiving funds under the Medicare program to report and return overpayments within specific timeframes.