New Medicare Processes Will Prevent Payment Of Health Care Services For Consumers In Government Custody

In April 2013, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is implementing a process to detect claims made for incarcerated Medicare beneficiaries. According to a report by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), between 2009 through 2011, Medicare improperly paid about $33 million for health care services provided to 11,600 beneficiaries while they were in jail or prison or otherwise in custody of a governmental agency. According to Medicare rules, health care services for incarcerated persons are the responsibility of the jurisdiction incarcerating the individual, not . . .