Review of Medicaid Drug Rebates at State Medicaid Agencies for the State of Maine

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The objectives of this audit were: (1) verify the total reported uncollected drug rebates for the State of Maine as of June 30, 2002, (2) determine whether the State agency has established adequate internal controls with regard to the Medicaid drug rebate program, and (3) evaluate the effectiveness of the actions taken by the State agency to resolve outstanding disputes.  We found that the State agency had not established adequate procedures to ensure that invoiced rebates or accounting adjustments are made to quarterly reports to the Centers for Mediare and Medicaid Services (CMS); all disputed rebate amounts are followed-up with the manufacturer in a timely manner and interest on unpaid or late drug rebate amounts is properly assessed.  We recommended that the State agency; ensure procedures are established to provide accurate pending rebate amounts and properly present drug rebate receivables in its quarterly reports to CMS, resolve disputed items in a timely manner in accordance with CMS guidelines, and collect interest on any disputed or unpaid drug rebate amounts as well as late payments. The auditee concurred with our findings.