The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of The Department of Health and Human Services has released its annual workplan for the coming year and its focus is to weed out and target health care fraud involving Medicare and Medicaid.Particular areas are under scrutiny for the OIG nation wide investigations.
Those include nursing homes, a massive source of abuse of Medicare funds.
The OIG says it will be assessing the administration of atypical antipsychotic drugs and PartB services like podiatry, ambulance, laboratory and imaging services for proper billing.
Also under scrutiny will be hospice services as 83% of hospice services did not meet Medicare coverage requirements.
Home health services will also come under OIG’s microscope and overpayments will be scrutinized.
Medical equipment and supplies is another high fraud arena and high dollar claims such as lower limb protheses will be closely examined, as will power mobility devices such as motorized chairs.
If you are aware of health care fraud, contact Jeffrey Newman who represents whistleblowers.
