Hill Awards Golden Fleece to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for Improper Payments of $1 Billion
Washington,
August 31, 2018
WASHINGTON – Congressman French Hill (R-AR) named the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as the latest winner of the Golden Fleece Award for making what appears to be an estimated nearly $1 billion in improper payments to Qualified Health Plan issuers for enrollees that were either ineligible or did not have the proper documentation. “At a time when healthcare costs are skyrocketing and our nation is over $20 trillion in debt, it is essential that our federal agencies act as good stewards of taxpayers’ dollars,” said Hill. “This lack of oversight and accountability is unacceptable, and action must be taken immediately because hardworking Arkansans and Americans deserve better.” In the letter to the Administrator of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Seema Verma, Congressman Hill wrote: The Honorable Seema Verma Administrator Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 7500 Security Blvd Baltimore, MD 21244-1849 Dear Administrator Verma: I write today to inform you that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is this month’s recipient of my Golden Fleece Award for making what appears to be nearly $1 billion in improper payments. An audit released by the Office of the Inspector General this month found that in 2014 CMS authorized an estimated $434.4 million in payments to Qualified Health Plan issuers for enrollees who were not eligible for these payments and a further $504.89 million in improper financial assistance payments for enrollees without the proper documentation.[1] At a time when healthcare costs are skyrocketing and our nation is over $20 trillion in debt, it is essential that our federal agencies act as good stewards of taxpayers’ dollars. I am committed to ensuring effective practices at our Nation’s federal agencies. Should you require any additional authority from Congress to address these concerns, I urge you to notify us as soon as possible. I thank you for your consideration and look forward to working with you to address this important issue. Sincerely, French Hill Member of Congress To view the letter click here. [1] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. CMS Did Not Always Accurately Authorize Financial Assistance Payments to Qualified Health Plan Issuers In Accordance With Federal Requirements During the 2014 Benefit Year. Daniel R. Levinson. August 2018 |
