Feds wrote more than $125M in duplicate checks to veterans’ doctors

KARAH RUCKER: ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT RELEASED THIS WEEK – THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WASTED MORE THAN 100 MILLION DOLLARS IN DUPLICATE CHECKS SENT TO DOCTORS PROVIDING CARE FOR VETERANS.

THERE WERE MORE THAN 300 THOUSAND INSTANCES DOCUMENTED OVER A FOUR YEAR SPAN – WHERE THE VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION PAID THE DOCTOR BILLS – AND MEDICARE PAID OUT THE SAME DOCTOR BILLS. RESULTING IN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DUPLICATE PAYMENTS FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

IN A NEW WATCHDOG REPORT FROM THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL – 128 MILLION DOLLARS OF TAXPAYER MONEY WENT TO PAYING VETERANS’ DOCTORS TWICE FOR THE SAME TAB.

THE REPORT SPANNED FROM 2017 TO 2021 – WITH MOST OF THE DUPLICATE PAYMENTS HAPPENING SINCE 2020. THAT’S WHEN THE GOVERNMENT PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS VETERAN TO SEEK CARE FROM PRIVATE DOCTORS RATHER THAN JUST THE V-A EXPANDED. THE NUMBER OF VETERANS SEEKING CARE FROM PRIVATE DOCTORS HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED SINCE 2020.

ABOUT 90 PERCENT OF THE DUPLICATE PAYMENTS WENT TOWARD TYPICAL CHECK UPS AND DOCTORS VISITS.

THE WATCHDOG REPORT CONCLUDED THAT THE VA AND CENTERS FOR MEDICARE HAVE NO CHECKS AND BALANCES SYSTEM WITH ONE ANOTHER – TO ENSURE BILLS AREN’T BEING PAID TWICE. THE TWO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES DON’T SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT PAYMENTS AND THEY DON’T TELL PROVIDERS IT SHOULD JUST BILL EITHER THE VA OR MEDICARE.

IN RESPONSE TO THIS REPORT – THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING THEY ARE NOW WORKING WITH THE VA TO ESTABLISH A DATA SHARING AGREEMENT TO CUT DOWN ON DOUBLE PAYMENTS.