Feb. 22—The federal government still needs to recoup $225.6 million in state Medicaid overpayments, according to a report issued by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Previously, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) agreed to collect $1.2 billion in Medicaid overpayments to states, as recommended in 147 OIG audits between FY00 and FY09. As of December 2012, CMS had reported collecting $987.5 million of the $1.2 billion. 

The OIG’s current report states that CMS has not proceeded collecting the remaining 20 percent of the overpayments in a timely manner. CMS also could not document that $7.2 million it reported as collected had been collected, the OIG says. The OIG recommends CMS educate states to report overpayments on the correct lines of the applicable forms, to facilitate adequate tracking of recoveries.

Publication Date: Friday, February 22, 2013