Submitting OIG:
Report Description:
Recent investigations by the Office of Inspector General have shown a number of instances in which hospices inappropriately billed Medicare for hospice general inpatient care (GIP). Misuse of GIP includes care being billed but not provided and beneficiaries receiving care they do not need. Such misuse has human costs for this vulnerable population as well as financial costs for Medicare. The goals of hospice care are to help terminally ill beneficiaries with a life expectancy of 6 months or less to continue life with minimal disruptions and to support beneficiaries' families and other caregivers. The care is palliative, rather than curative. Hospices must establish an individualized plan of care for each beneficiary. GIP is the second most expensive level of hospice care and is intended to be short-term inpatient care for symptom management and pain control that cannot be handled in other settings.
Date Issued:
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Agency Reviewed / Investigated:
Submitting OIG-Specific Report Number:
OEI-02-10-00491
Component, if applicable:
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Location(s):
Agency-Wide
Type of Report:
Inspection / Evaluation
Questioned Costs:
$0
Funds for Better Use:
$0
Number of Recommendations:
6
View Document:
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
oei-02-10-00491.pdf | 1.62 MB |
Additional Details Link: