RACs recovered $162 million in overpayments in 2011

 
May 12, 2011 – CMS released data in April on the amounts of overpayments and underpayments collected by Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs) in the first quarter of 2011.  The total overpayments collected were $162 million while the underpayments totaling $22.6 million were returned to providers during the same time period, resulting in a net recoupment of “inappropriate” Medicare payments of approximately $140 million. 
 
The first quarter collected considerably more than the last quarter (Oct – Dec 2011), where CMS collected $75.8 million in overpayments and returned $13.1 million in underpayments.
 
Although the majority ofRACissues continue to be with hospital services and DMS suppliers, RACs have found several issues that affect physicians. 

• Incorrectly billing for new patients
• E & M services billed during global surgery procedure
• Chemotherapy administration and non-chemotherapy injections and infusions

 We continue to monitor the audit issues posted on each of the RAC auditor websites.

Tags: RAC Audits