Bass, Berry & Sims attorney Danielle Sloane discussed the probable reason behind the reduction of improper payments to health providers by Medicare in FY 2018. The drops were most notable in the home health services and skilled nursing facilities industries. According to Danielle, “The steep drop is due in part to an increased reliance on Medicare pre-payment reviews, which can deny claims before they are paid. Health-care providers also have become better educated on how to file proper Medicare claims. Providers want to provide services without the hassle and expense of defending their claims after the fact.”
The full article, “Medicare Slashed Improper Payments by $4.6 Billion From 2017,” was published by Bloomberg Law on November 19, 2018, and is available online (subscription required).