Payments for Services to Deceased Beneficiaries in Mississippi

May 28, 2003

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Audit Services conducted an audit of Medicaid payments made on behalf of deceased beneficiaries in Mississippi for federal fiscal years 1999 through 2001.  We found that the Mississippi Division of Medicaid made overpayments totaling $105,553 (federal share $80,918) related to recipients after their death.  These overpayments were due to a time lag between the recipient's death and the recipient's Medicaid file update.  We recommended that the DOM recover and refund the federal share of the overpayment.