U.S. GAO Says $36 Billion Paid Out in Improper Medicaid Payments in 2016

Medicaid is a joint federal-state health care program for low income and medically needy people, with an estimated $36 billion in improper payments in fiscal year 2016.

We’ve identified some ways to reduce these errors, such as by confirming that Medicaid’s participants and health care providers meet eligibility requirements, effectively overseeing managed care organizations, and ensuring that participants don’t have duplicate coverage through private health insurance.The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has taken steps to address some of these issues, but more work is needed—at both the state and federal levels.

Source: U.S. GAO – Medicaid: CMS Has Taken Steps, but Further Efforts Are Needed to Control Improper Payments