The Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued its fiscal year 2008 Work Plan, identifying investigation projects for the coming fiscal year relating to the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Following is a copy of pages 3 through 13 of the 2008 OIG Work Plan, which identify the investigation projects for hospitals and physicians.
Key hospital investigations will be the over-utilization of diagnostic imaging in Emergency Room Departments and patient care and safety in physician-owned specialty hospitals.
Key physician investigation projects will include coding for the place of service, evaluation and management services during global surgery periods, Medicare “incident to” services, assignment rules by Medicare providers, Medicare payments for interventional pain management procedures, geographic areas with high utilization of ultra sound services, geographic areas with a high density of independent diagnostic and testing facilities, and physician reassignment of benefits.
Click here to read the complete OIG 2008 Work Plan in the OIG Reading Room and an article describing OIG Work Related to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
