Medicare spending on home health was $12.9 billion in 2006—that’s up 44% since 2002, according to Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released March 13, 2009. Upcoding, by home health agencies, as well as other fraudulent and abusive practices, such as kickbacks and billing for services not rendered, contributed to the rise in Medicare spending for homebound enrollees, the report says.

GAO found that inadequate administration of the Medicare home health benefit is making it vulnerable to improper payments, and, as a result, GAO made four recommendations to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

For a copy of the report, including GAO’s recommendations, go to http://grassley.senate.gov/private/upload/03132009.pdf.

For more about Medicare fraud, contact Nolan and Auerbach, PA.