Medicare Made $23 Billion in Improper Payments in 2017, GAO Says

Medicare doled out $23.2 billion in improper payments in 2017 due to insufficient documentation, a government watchdog said, drawing the wrath of a powerful Republican senator.

Medicaid also made $4.3 billion in erroneous payments in 2017, according to the March 28 Government Accountability Office report. The findings should prompt the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to shore up its oversight of provider claims, the GAO said.

The report estimates that 6 percent of Medicare claims lacked sufficient documentation as did 1.3 percent of Medicaid payments. Those were the most common errors found.

“The administration ought to swiftly work ...