Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Report: US Pays $125B To Ineligible Recipients
The Washington Post: Improper Payments Jumped $125 Billion For Federal Government Last Year
The federal government lost ground last year in reducing improper payments from programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and tax credits for the working poor, experiencing a nearly 18 percent increase in the costs. A report this week from the Government Accountability Office said the U.S. government forked over an estimated $124.7 billion to ineligible recipients in 2014, representing the first jump in four years. (Hicks, 3/6)
CQ Healthbeat: Medicare Policy Changes Sought For Short Hospital Stays
Congress' advisers on Medicare will push for changes to current policies on short hospital stays, which now can sometimes put the elderly and disabled on the hook for costly rehabilitation services. Braving a snowstorm that shuttered much of Washington, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission on Thursday discussed a proposed package of recommendations regarding short hospital stays, such those as those lasting only a night. These have proven profitable for hospitals when billed under Medicare's Part A component, according to MedPAC staff. (Young, 3/5)
CQ Healthbeat: Medicare Panel Focuses on Discount Drug Program
Thursday's snowstorm delayed a House hearing on the government's 340B discount drug program, but Congress' advisers on Medicare soldiered on with a separate discussion about the issue. The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission plans to include a discussion of the 340B program in its regular June report to Congress, although the drug discount offerings fall somewhat outside of its jurisdiction. (Young, 3/5)
