OIG Report: Coding Errors Led To $34 Million In Medicare IRF Overpayments
Coding errors led to an estimated $34 million in Medicare overpayments to inpatient rehabilitation facilities between fiscal years 2004 and 2007, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General. Of the 220 IRF claims that were reviewed, 213 claims were coded as a patient discharge when the patient was actually transferred. Under Medicare’s IRF PPS, discharges receive a full payment while transfers to another facility receive a smaller payment. CMS agreed with OIG’s recommendations that CMS recover the $1 million in overpayments identified and that remaining claims be reviewed to facilitate possible recovery of additional millions in overpayments. The report is available online.
Study: Medicare Pay Denied To Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospitals
A study from the American Hospital Association concludes inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and units are inappropriately denied Medicare payment for care, and a high percentage of those denials are overturned on appeal.