Government

Medicare wants back millions in accidental Part D payments

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Sept. 11, 2006

Print  |   Email  |   Respond  |   Reprints  |   Like Facebook  |   Share Twitter  |   Tweet Linkedin

The federal government erroneously sent nearly $50 million to Medicare Part D beneficiaries and will require the money back.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services revealed that it had sent incorrect payments to more than 200,000 beneficiaries along with a letter informing them that the Social Security Administration would stop deducting Medicare drug premiums from their Social Security checks. CMS sent a follow-up letter apologizing for the error and asking affected seniors to set the inadvertent payments aside.

At press time, the agency had not announced how it would recoup the overpayments, which averaged about $200 each. Patient advocates and at least one lawmaker called on CMS to take back the money in small increments over time to avoid punishing seniors who had already spent it.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2006/09/11/gvbf0911.htm.

Back to top


ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISE HERE


Featured
Read story

Confronting bias against obese patients

Medical educators are starting to raise awareness about how weight-related stigma can impair patient-physician communication and the treatment of obesity. Read story


Read story

Goodbye

American Medical News is ceasing publication after 55 years of serving physicians by keeping them informed of their rapidly changing profession. Read story


Read story

Policing medical practice employees after work

Doctors can try to regulate staff actions outside the office, but they must watch what they try to stamp out and how they do it. Read story


Read story

Diabetes prevention: Set on a course for lifestyle change

The YMCA's evidence-based program is helping prediabetic patients eat right, get active and lose weight. Read story


Read story

Medicaid's muddled preventive care picture

The health system reform law promises no-cost coverage of a lengthy list of screenings and other prevention services, but some beneficiaries still might miss out. Read story


Read story

How to get tax breaks for your medical practice

Federal, state and local governments offer doctors incentives because practices are recognized as economic engines. But physicians must know how and where to find them. Read story


Read story

Advance pay ACOs: A down payment on Medicare's future

Accountable care organizations that pay doctors up-front bring practice improvements, but it's unclear yet if program actuaries will see a return on investment. Read story


Read story

Physician liability: Your team, your legal risk

When health care team members drop the ball, it's often doctors who end up in court. How can physicians improve such care and avoid risks? Read story

  • Stay informed
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • LinkedIn