Update on Findings Developed in Our National Review of Medicare Accounts Receivable With Credit Balances

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

This final report updates findings previously reported to the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA). Updated results of our review of 76 hospitals and 9 intermediaries indicate that the conditions reported in our initial report are national in scope. Based on statistical sampling techniques, we estimate that hospitals owed the Medicare program about $266 million in overpayments that the hospitals had kept and the intermediaries had failed to detect. To date, HCFA's actions have resulted in recoveries of the overpayments totaling about $66 million. This is a clear indication that HCFA should continue its pursuit of recovery of these overpayments.