Grassley Continues to Seek Accountability

U.S. Sen. Grassley: Grassley continues to seek accountability 10/7/2010 For Immediate Release Thursday, October 7, 2010 Grassley Continues to Seek Accountability WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley recently sent a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Donald Berwick reiterating his concerns that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, is not properly overseeing its contractors. Grassley said the lack of oversight of contractors is alarming, and he points to agency oversight of contractors responsible for adjudicating and processing Medicare claims; locating and addressing waste, fraud or abuse; and  improving the quality of health care provided to Medicare beneficiaries. “The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is not holding contractors accountable when those contractors fail to carry out their responsibilities or fulfill contract terms,” Grassley said. “The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services needs to do what it takes to make sure these contractors don’t waste taxpayer dollars.” Previously, Grassley raised concerns about Program Safety Contractors, who are tasked with locating and addressing waste, fraud or abuse, failing to adequately open new investigations or refer cases to law enforcement when appropriate. Grassley also expressed concerns about the apparent lack of accountability by Medicare Quality Improvement Organizations, which are tasked with improving the quality of health care provided to Medicare beneficiaries.

Senator Grassely's Letter to HHS Secretary Sebelius On Centers for Medicare and Medicaid