The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services plans to collect overpayments within 60 days in order to better prevent fraud and abuse, a move that may require practices to maintain patient records for 10 years, according to an AAPC report.
According to the report, the new regulation would penalize practices under the False Claims Act for not returning overpayments quickly enough. It would also extend the looking-back period to 10 years, allowing auditors to report overpayments discovered 10 years from when the overpayment is received.
Physicians and other health professionals could face monetary fines and exclusion from federal health programs for failing to report and return an overpayment, the proposed rule states. Cases also could be referred to the HHS Office of Inspector General for investigation of possible anti-kickback statute violations.
This announcement coincided with a report to Congress made by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder detailing $4.1 billion in fraud and other health care recoveries in 2011, the largest ever.
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According to the report, the new regulation would penalize practices under the False Claims Act for not returning overpayments quickly enough. It would also extend the looking-back period to 10 years, allowing auditors to report overpayments discovered 10 years from when the overpayment is received.
Physicians and other health professionals could face monetary fines and exclusion from federal health programs for failing to report and return an overpayment, the proposed rule states. Cases also could be referred to the HHS Office of Inspector General for investigation of possible anti-kickback statute violations.
This announcement coincided with a report to Congress made by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder detailing $4.1 billion in fraud and other health care recoveries in 2011, the largest ever.
Related Articles on Coding, Billing & Collections:
Maine Health Insurance Exchange in Limbo
Tennessee Passes Bill to Allow State Takeover of Medicare
Oregon Could Develop Coordinated Care Organization