HHS' Office of Inspector General will audit hospitals to determine whether they complied with federal billing requirements for COVID-19 inpatients, the agency said in a recent work plan update.
Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, hospitals receive a 20 percent pay bump for patients who are diagnosed with COVID-19 and discharged during the federal public health emergency.
OIG expects to issue the audits in 2022.
CMS recently said it will require hospitals to submit a positive COVID-19 test result to receive the payment boost.