Audit Update

Audit Update

Sara Beck

7/6/2015

Hello all,Iwanted to provide you all with a brief synopsis on a recent industry meetingthat offered great insight into the Medicare audit system.  As we all know,Medicare audits are the single most important issue facing the independent O&Pprofession.  OPGA recently held theirPremier Plus Live education meeting in Chicago, IL; which focused on audits andhow to defend against them.  CongresswomanTammy Duckworth and Deputy National Ombudsman, Yolanda Swift, of the U.S. Small BusinessAdministration (SBA) were in attendance.  Both sat down for round table conversationsabout Medicare audits.  They were very knowledgeableon the subject and eager to help.  It wasa great opportunity for them to hear, first hand, how the audits are affectingsmall providers.  Congresswoman Duckworthis not only a respected hero and admirable human being, but she is also a compellingchampion for the independent O&P profession.  The SBA is also another crucial advocate forsmall providers.  The SBA should be heavilyinvolved in ALL of our industry meetings and conferences.  So, I was grateful to OPGA for producing the mostappropriate agencies and accurate contacts that can aid independent providersin fixing and navigating the audit system. I am sure you all are also aware thatMedicare, or its contractors, have targeted small O&P providers with largevolumes of expensive audits, while leaving large corporations with low volumeinexpensive audits.  This was a topicthat was heavily discussed at the OPGA meeting with both Congresswoman Duckworth and YolandaSwift.  We have requested that the Officeof Inspector General (OIG) conduct an investigation into the matter, and areawaiting a response.  We are also in theprocess of getting other government agencies involved in determining why thisaudit discrimination has occurred, and how it can be fixed appropriately.  Overall, the meeting was a success and agreat opportunity for our voices to be heard. I was to reiterate, again, that I believe it is imperative forindependent providers to band together and speak out.  Medicare audits are not going away; however, we canstop the inequality.  But, we need your help. Please contact mewith any questions or comments.  I wouldlove to hear from the entire independent community. We are all in this together;it’s time to take our profession back. Best regards,Sara Beck
Appeals Specialist
San Joaquin Orthotics & Prosthetics
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