OIG 2015 Workplan Will Focus on Independent Laboratories

The OIG for the Department of Health and Human Services has announced it plans to “review Medicare payments to independent clinical laboratories to determine laboratories’ compliance with selected billing requirements” in 2015. They will use the results of these reviews to identify clinical laboratories that routinely submit improper claims and recommend recovery of overpayments. Prior OIG audits, investigations, and inspections have identified independent clinical laboratory areas at risk for noncompliance with Medicare billing requirements. They will focus on independent clinical laboratories with claims that may be at risk for overpayments.