Government Healthcare Policy, Business and Technology

Nearly 20% of Medicare radiation therapy planning payments were improper, OIG says

Modern Healthcare: The CMS doled out nearly 25% more in Medicare payments for certain planning treatments for a common cancer radiation therapy than were warranted, according to a watchdog report released Monday. But the CMS claimed the mistake was due to provider confusion over the agency's guidance.

On top of the $109 million in bundled payments for the treatments, nearly 1,200 hospitals billed Medicare nearly $25 million more for services that should have been included in the bundles. HHS' Office of Inspector General flagged the overbilling in an audit of calendar years 2013 through 2015, but estimates it could have improperly paid out more than $5 million in extra reimbursements in 2016 and 2017.

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