Why GAO did this study. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) oversees the design and operation of state Medicaid programs, including nonemergency medical transportation. This Medicaid benefit is essential to ensuring beneficiaries’ access to necessary health care. CMS has identified it as a program area at risk for fraud. Congress included a provision in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 for GAO to examine Medicaid nonemergency medical transportation. This report describes (1) states’ approaches to administer this benefit; (2) outcomes and findings of related fraud investigations and program audits; and (3) strategies selected states used to address related fraud. GAO reviewed relevant federal statutes, regulations, and guidance, as well as documentation across 50 states and the District of Columbia to determine their approaches to administering this benefit. GAO also reviewed related fraud investigations and program audits conducted by Medicaid Fraud Control Units, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General, and state audit organizations. In eight states, GAO interviewed Medicaid officials. In seven of these states, GAO also interviewed officials from Medicaid Fraud Control Units and contractors that administered the benefit, such as brokers or managed care organizations. The eight states were selected based on variation in benefit approaches and geography.
Copyright:
The National Library of Medicine believes this item to be in the public domain. (More information)