Corporate Compliance

CMS cracks down on fraud

Compliance Monitor, October 8, 2008

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On October 6, CMS announced it will ramp up efforts to curb Medicare fraud and abuse.
 
The CMS press release specifically mentioned the agency will focus more attention on Florida home health agencies and Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS ) suppliers in Florida, California, Texas, Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, and New York. 
 
CMS plans to:
  • Conduct more stringent reviews of new DMEPOS suppliers’ applications including background checks to ensure a principal, owner, or managing owner has not been suspended by Medicare
  • Make unannounced site visits to double check that suppliers and home health agencies are actually in business
  • Implement extensive pre- and post-payment review of claims submitted by suppliers, home health agencies, and ordering or referring physicians
  • Validate claims submitted by physicians who order a high number of certain items or services by sending follow-up letters to these physicians
  • Verify the relationship between physicians who order a large volume of DMEPOS equipment or supplies or home health visits and the beneficiaries for whom they ordered these services
  • Identify and visit high risk beneficiaries to ensure they are appropriately receiving the items and services for which Medicare is being billed
The attention being focused on Florida is not unfounded. The Florida Attorney General’s (AG) Office issued a press release September 30, which said the number of Medicare fraud cases in the state has steadily increased since 2006. For fiscal year 2008, the AG’s Office prosecuted 245 cases, with a corresponding fraud amount of $793 million.
 
To read the CMS press release click here
To read the Florida Attorney General press release click here



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