In a letter to HHS Secretary Tom Price sent Thursday, the Council for Medicare Integrity urged HHS to step up efforts to combat improper Medicare payments.
The letter calls for an increase in integrity efforts that would defend Medicare resources and the future solvency of the program.
"With Medicare Part A set to reduce hospital coverage for beneficiaries in 2028 to 87 percent of what's covered today, it's more important than ever that we recover the more than $40 billion lost each year to improper Medicare billing and prevent future cuts to senior's healthcare coverage," Kristin Walter, spokesperson for CMI said.
According to CMI, only 0.5 percent of Medicare claims can be reviewed for accuracy compared to 100 percent for private insurers, which causes large improper payments due to error.
CMI recommends that a larger portion of insurance claims should be reviewed along with expediting the audit review process to get the program back on track.
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