Medicare insurers earned $4.2B extra from home visit diagnoses, report

A recent Office of Inspector General (OIG) report reveals that Medicare paid private insurers billions for potentially inaccurate diagnoses from home visits in 2023.

Insurers of the plan, Medicare Advantage, received $4.2 billion in extra federal payments for home diagnoses, averaging $1,869 per visit, even when no treatment was provided.

The OIG recommends that Medicare restrict or even stop paying for diagnoses under the plan, but the agency disagrees, stating that it prioritizes accuracy in patient records.

Medicare Advantage was incorporated to help reduce costs and increase care for the elderly and disabled.

The report echoes previous findings that raised concerns about the financial practices of the home visit plan’s insurers, underscoring the need for stricter oversight to protect taxpayer dollars.