OIG Releases Annual “Top Management and Performance Challenges” Facing the Department of Health and Human Services

Yesterday, the Office of Inspector General released their annual summary of the most significant management and performance challenges facing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The 2014 Top Management and Performance Challenges lists ten issues reflecting continuing vulnerabilities that OIG has identified for HHS over recent years as well as new and emerging issues that HHS will face in the coming year. For each category, OIG outlines the challenge, the progress that has been made regarding the challenge, and recommendations they offer going forward. Our coverage highlights a number of the challenges that OIG raises, with a focus on the recommendations for fighting healthcare fraud and abuse.  Fighting Waste and Fraud and Promoting Value in Medicare Parts A and B  “Waste in health care programs is a multi-dimensional problem,” states OIG. “Key areas of focus for reducing waste in Medicare Parts A and B include reducing improper payments, fighting fraud, fostering economical payment policies, and transitioning from volume to value in health care.” OIG states: "Fraud schemes shift over time, but certain Medicare services have been consistent targets.” For example, OIG continues to “uncover fraud schemes and questionable billing patterns by durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers, home health agencies, community mental health centers, clinical laboratories, ambulance transportation suppliers, and outpatient therapy providers.” OIG note...
Source: Policy and Medicine - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs