Medicare improperly paid out millions for drugs provided to people in jail

By Caroline May | The Daily Caller

Medicare improperly paid out millions for prescription drugs provided to incarcerated persons, a new government report finds.

People who are incarcerated are largely ineligible for federal health care benefits, and are specifically ineligible for coverage under Medicare Part D. But despite the restrictions, Medicare Part D paid out millions for prescription drugs for incarcerated people due to a lack of internal controls, according to a new Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General (OIG) report made public Monday.

The OIG estimates that Medicare Part D accepted “unallowable” prescription drug event (PDE) records submitted by sponsors or private prescription drug plans for prescription drugs, resulting in nearly $12 million paid out to people in prisons from 2006-2010.

at The Daily Caller.

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