A three-judge federal court in Boston rejected the state of Maine's request for an expedited review of its Medicaid waiver application, Thursday, saying "the facts do no warrant" the need for a fast review.
Federal court rejects Maine's Medicaid lawsuit
A three-judge federal court in Boston rejected the state of Maine's request for an expedited review of its Medicaid waiver application, Thursday, saying "the facts do no warrant" the need for a fast review. The state sought the court action after receiving word from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Aug 31 that the agency needed more time to consider the state's application for what would pare roughly 24,000 low-income parents, nearly 7,000 19- and 20-year-olds, and 1,800 Medicare recipients who receive additional benefits under MaineCare. Five days later, the state filed the complaint in federal court that would require CMS to act sooner because Maine would suffer irreparable harm, if forced to wait as long as two months to receive its answer from CMS. The state had sought to make the changes to its MaineCare program effective September 1.
Iowa investigates Medicaid billing of nursing home operator
Iowa officials have initiated an investigation of nursing home operator Signature Care Services into its Medicaid billing practices according to a report in the Des Moines Register. The investigation was likely spurred by concerns raised by Signature's own internal auditors and concerns billings for tens of thousands of dollars spent on "non-recurring expenses" that were claimed as direct patient-care costs. Upon investigation the auditing firm for Signature said the non-recurring expenses were actually repayments to the state Medicaid system for past non-allowed expenses. The state is now investigating whether Signature is trying to bill Medicaid for part of the costs of the repayments.
Texas launches probe of Xerox role in overpayment of Medicaid dental claims
Texas officials recently began an investigation of Affiliated Computer Services Inc., a Xerox company, into its potential role in allowing Medicaid reimbursements to be paid to dentists for services not covered under the program, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. At issue is whether Affiliated employed enough trained staff at its facility, which serves as a resource to dentists in the state to help them determine whether procedures are covered under the state's Medicaid program. According to the report a 2008 audit by the Texas health agency revealed that Associated only employed one trained dentist to review the thousands of requests it receives and that dentist on staff examined only about 10 percent of all requests submitted. Xerox provides Medicaid administration services in 36 states and the District of Columbia.