PREVENTING OVERPAYMENTS FROM BECOMING FALSE CLAIMS

By:  Andrew Sparks

Overpayments to healthcare providers receiving Medicare reimbursements are at risk of civil and criminal enforcement action if not attuned to a particular reimbursement rule and diligent in compliance with the rule’s requirements. In short, the overpayment rule turns potential billing mistakes into fraud. A healthcare provider cannot keep money paid in error. The Government and relator bar are certain to address fully this theory of liability against every healthcare provider who ends up in litigation. If an overpayment is identified and the provider does nothing, then the provider will end up paying significantly more to the Government. It’s the proverbial pay (less for compliance) now or more (to the Government) later. Put differently, healthcare providers should address the smaller problem sooner rather than the bigger problem later.  Last year Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its Final Rule concerning overpayment procedures for Medicare Parts A and B. The Rule implements Section 6402(a) of the Affordable Care Act, which addresses the identification, reporting and repayment of overpayments. Healthcare providers reasonably should expect to see increased use of this provision in Government enforcement and whistleblower lawsuits now that the overpayment requirements have been disseminated fully throughout the healthcare community. 

Last year Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its Final Rule concerning overpayment procedures  for Medicare Parts A and B. The Rule implements Section 6402(a) of the Affordable Care Act, which addresses the identification, reporting and repayment of overpayments. Healthcare providers reasonably should expect to see increased use of this provision in Government enforcement and whistleblower lawsuits now that the overpayment requirements have been disseminated fully throughout the healthcare community.

Please read the entire article here.

 

Andrew L. Sparks is a Of Counsel in Dickinson Wright’s Lexington office. He can be reached at  859.899.8734.