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Link to full story>>> How Medicare Advantage plans code for cash | Center for Public Integrity
How Medicare Advantage plans code for cash
HHS report exposes overbilling, urges 'policy changes'
By Fred Schulteemail 4 hours, 8 minutes ago Updated: 4 hours, 8 minutes ago
Medicare Advantage Money Grab
Billing errors cost taxpayers billions
Stories in this series
Why Medicare Advantage costs taxpayers billions more than it should
By Fred Schulte, David Donald and Erin Durkin June 4, 2014
Health insurers have their way with regulators
By Fred Schulte June 9, 2014
Home is where the money is for Medicare Advantage plans
By Fred Schulte June 10, 2014
Medicare Advantage lobbying machine steamrolls Congress
By Fred Schulte June 10, 2014
Feds seek new authority to recoup Medicare Advantage overcharges
By Fred Schulte July 9, 2014
Medicare Advantage plans require more scrutiny
By Fred Schulte June 25, 2014
Get involved: Help Medicare Advantage investigation go further with donations and news tips
By The Center for Public Integrity June 10, 2014
New audits may recover missing millions — or not
By Fred Schulte June 9, 2014
150 billion reasons Medicare Advantage matters
By Eleanor Bell June 5, 2014
Audio: Reporter Fred Schulte discusses Medicare Advantage investigation
Click here for more stories in this investigation
A new federal study shows that many Medicare Advantage health plans routinely overbill the government for treating elderly patients — and have gotten away with doing it for years.
Analyzing government data never before made public, Department of Health and Human Services researchers found that many plans exaggerate how sick their patients are and how much they cost to treat. Medicare expects to pay the privately run plans — an alternative to traditional Medicare — some $160 billion this year.
The HHS study does not directly accuse any insurers of wrongdoing or name specific plans that were scrutinized. But the researchers offer the most comprehensive evidence to date that suspect billing practices have been common across much of the Medicare Advantage industry and are likely to get worse unless officials crack down.
“Further policy changes will likely be necessary,” the study concludes.
Continued on the link.
How Medicare Advantage plans code for cash
HHS report exposes overbilling, urges 'policy changes'
By Fred Schulteemail 4 hours, 8 minutes ago Updated: 4 hours, 8 minutes ago
Medicare Advantage Money Grab
Billing errors cost taxpayers billions
Stories in this series
Why Medicare Advantage costs taxpayers billions more than it should
By Fred Schulte, David Donald and Erin Durkin June 4, 2014
Health insurers have their way with regulators
By Fred Schulte June 9, 2014
Home is where the money is for Medicare Advantage plans
By Fred Schulte June 10, 2014
Medicare Advantage lobbying machine steamrolls Congress
By Fred Schulte June 10, 2014
Feds seek new authority to recoup Medicare Advantage overcharges
By Fred Schulte July 9, 2014
Medicare Advantage plans require more scrutiny
By Fred Schulte June 25, 2014
Get involved: Help Medicare Advantage investigation go further with donations and news tips
By The Center for Public Integrity June 10, 2014
New audits may recover missing millions — or not
By Fred Schulte June 9, 2014
150 billion reasons Medicare Advantage matters
By Eleanor Bell June 5, 2014
Audio: Reporter Fred Schulte discusses Medicare Advantage investigation
Click here for more stories in this investigation
A new federal study shows that many Medicare Advantage health plans routinely overbill the government for treating elderly patients — and have gotten away with doing it for years.
Analyzing government data never before made public, Department of Health and Human Services researchers found that many plans exaggerate how sick their patients are and how much they cost to treat. Medicare expects to pay the privately run plans — an alternative to traditional Medicare — some $160 billion this year.
The HHS study does not directly accuse any insurers of wrongdoing or name specific plans that were scrutinized. But the researchers offer the most comprehensive evidence to date that suspect billing practices have been common across much of the Medicare Advantage industry and are likely to get worse unless officials crack down.
“Further policy changes will likely be necessary,” the study concludes.
Continued on the link.
