UCLA Study Finds Issues With Medicare Payment Patterns

Researchers at UCLA have discovered a problem involving inflated charges and significant variations in patterns of payments for surgical care by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). One of the things driving the payment variations are procedures being done at outpatient clinics. Medicare currently accounts for 16 percent of the Federal budget and this study will likely add fuel to the debate over how Medicare and Medicaid costs are being managed. This study has also contradicted a widely held perception that the inflated health care costs are caused mostly by high-intensity surgical care. Lawmakers will need to debate and discuss ideas for reforming the Medicare and Medicaid system to cut down on these types of situations.

See UCLA study finds inflated charges, significant variation in Medicare payment patterns, MNT, March 3, 2016.