Tag: Office of Inspector General

Medicare Contractors Were Not Consistent In How They Reviewed Extrapolated Overpayments

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Health and Human Services conducted an audit to determine whether the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ensured that MACs and QICs reviewed appealed extrapolated overpayments consistently and in a manner that conforms with existing CMS requirements. The OIG concluded that the MACs and…

CMS Releases Safeguards for Medicare Patients in Hospice Care

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently posted a MLN Hospice Fact Sheet, Safeguards for Medicare Patients in Hospice Care, in response to two reports on hospice care by the Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG). (See previous coverage of these reports here and here.) The fact sheet…

OIG Report on Hospice Aide Supervisory Visits

Deficiencies found and remedies recommended by OIG The Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) recently released another report pertaining to the quality of hospice care.  In this report, Registered Nurses Did Not Always Visit Medicare Beneficiaries’ Homes At Least Once Every 14 Days To Assess The Quality Of…

Abuse & Neglect in the Medicare Population: A Recent OIG Report

Editor’s Note:  Special thanks go to Bill Musick, President of Integriti3D, for his contribution of this article.  Integriti3D helps hospice chief executives and boards of directors reach their highest potential through strategic planning, board development and creating a culture of integrity, fairness and respect. While not specifically focused on home health or hospice, the OIG’s…

OIG Releases Two Reports Targeting Hospice Survey Deficiencies and Quality of Care

Earlier this week the HHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) issued two reports representing in-depth study of findings from Medicare hospice recertification and complaint surveys. One report, Hospice Deficiencies Pose Risks to Medicare Beneficiaries, provides broad findings on frequencies of deficiencies and recommends greater public access to survey findings as well as increased CMS-sponsored…

Office of Inspector General Continues Focus on Home Health Agencies

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Inspector General (OIG) issues updates to its work plan on a monthly basis through out the year. Since our last report on the OIG’s recent activity updates (NAHC Report https://report.nahc.org/recently-added-oig-work-plan-item-may-impact-home-health-and-hospice-providers/), the OIG announced this month a revision of an issue for home heath agencies…

OIG: CMS & States Must Work Together on Background Checks for Long-Term Care Employees

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must help states completely implement background checks for long-term caregiver employees, according to a new report released by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Nine million beneficiaries rely on long-term-care services each year for safe, dependable care and…

Recently Added OIG Work Plan Item May Impact Home Health and Hospice Providers

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) work planning is dynamic and adjustments are made throughout the year to meet priorities and to anticipate and respond to emerging issues. A Work Plan has been developed, made public, and updated monthly with new issues.  This month, there are two new issues…

Office of Inspector General Adds New Items to Home Health Work Plan

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) work planning  is dynamic and adjustments are made throughout the year to meet priorities and to anticipate and respond to emerging issues. A Work Plan was developed and is available to the public.  It is updated monthly with new issues.  In January 2019, there are two new issues of…

OIG Assembles Background Info, Recommendations Centered on Previous Hospice Analyses, Investigations in “Portfolio” Report

The Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector (OIG) included plans, as part of its FY2017 Work Plan, for a hospice portfolio report; that report (Vulnerabilities in the Medicare Hospice Program Affect Quality Care and Program Integrity:  A Portfolio), issued on July 31, compiles 15 OIG recommendations related to seven specific areas…