Medicare could have saved $128 million in duplicate claims payments with a better data-sharing agreement with the Veterans Health Administration, according to an audit from HHS' Office of Inspector General.
The audit, published April 24, analyzed a sample of 36.3 million claims from enrollees eligible for both services covering $19.2 billion. The OIG used this sample to reach the estimate of $128 million in duplicate claims.
The Veterans Health Administration is responsible for paying providers for medical services it authorizes, according to the audit.
Around 50 percent of veterans enrolled in VA care are also eligible for Medicare, according to CMS.
Overpayments could have been prevented if CMS established an ongoing data-sharing agreement with VHA to identify duplicate claims, the OIG said in its audit.
The agency agreed with OIG's recommendation and is working to develop a process to address duplicate payments.