News: GAO reports indicate CMS/HHS needs better oversight
January 3, 2013
CDI Strategies - Volume 7, Issue 1
A November report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) calls on CMS to provide better oversight of its key audit contractors specifically related to Medicaid. The report called the National Medicaid Audit Program (NMAP) “inefficient,” causing duplicative efforts between it and Recovery Auditors.
“Because both types of contractors had to assess whether payments were improper under state Medicaid policies, having separate contractors doubled states' burden in ensuring that state policies were being correctly applied. Also, poor coordination and communication between the two types of contractors resulted in duplicative data analysis,” the report states.
In an October report, the GAO included the HHS among its list of five government agencies in dire need of overarching operational analysis.
“Until agencies address these shortcomings, there is increased risk that these agencies will not know whether the multibillion dollar investments fully meet their intended objectives,” the GAO wrote.