Chapter 1 focuses on how the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) identifies and combats waste, fraud, and abuse in both traditional Medicare and the Medicare Advantage program. Reducing improper payments is critical for protecting the integrity of the program and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are well spent. The Medicaid program, which provides vital health care to over 70 million Americans, regardless of preexisting conditions. GAO and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) published reports on continued weaknesses and program integrity risks and Medicaid managed care. Clearly, there is a need for greater transparency on how managed care organizations spend Federal dollars and greater program integrity and oversight in Medicaid in general. Chapter 2 talks about the rate of improper payments in the Medicaid program.
