• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • WHO WE ARE
    • About Our Firm
    • Attorney and Staff Profiles
    • News and Events
  • Areas We Serve
    • Essex County, MA
      • Andover
      • North Andover
    • Hillsborough County, NH
      • Manchester
      • Nashua
    • Middlesex County, MA
      • Concord
      • Lexington
      • Wakefield
      • Winchester
      • Woburn
    • Rockingham County, NH
      • Exeter
      • Londonderry
      • Salem
  • Services
    • Asset & Business Planning
    • Elder Law & Medicaid Services
    • Estate And Gift Tax Figures
    • Family-Owned Businesses & Farms
    • Legacy Planning Services
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning
    • Loss Of A Loved One
    • Pet Planning
    • Power Of Attorney
    • Probate and Trust Administration
    • SECURE Act
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Young Families
  • Elder Law
    • Coping with Alzheimer’s
    • Hospice Care
    • Medicaid Planning
    • Nursing Home Planning
  • Resources
    • Elder Law
      • Elder Law & Medicaid Definitions
      • Elder law reports
      • Elder Law Resources
        • Elder Law Resources – Londonderry, New Hampshire
        • Elder Law Resources North Andover, Massachusetts
        • Nashua, New Hampshire Elder Law Resources
        • Woburn, MA Elder Law Resources
    • Estate Planning
      • Estate Planning Articles
      • Estate and Gift Tax Figures
      • Estate Planning Checkup
      • Estate Planning Definitions
      • Estate Planning Reports
        • Advanced Estate Planning
        • Basic Estate Planning
        • Estate Planning for Niches
        • Trust Administration
      • Incapacity Planning Definitions
      • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
      • Top 10 Estate and Legacy Planning Techniques
    • Free Estate Planning Worksheet
    • Free Seminars
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Asset Protection Planning
      • Business Planning
      • Charitable Gifting
      • Estate Planning
      • Elder Law
      • Frequently Asked Questions for Families Without an Estate Plan
      • Incapacity Planning
      • Legacy Wealth Planning
      • LGBTQ Estate Planning
      • Medicaid Planning
      • Trust Administration & Probate
      • Wills and Trusts
    • Newsletters
    • Pre Consultation Form
    • Presentations
    • Probate and Trust Administration
      • Bereavement Resources
      • How to Know if You Need Extra Help With Your Grieving
      • Loss Of A Loved One
      • Probate Resources
        • Nashua, New Hampshire Probate Resources
        • Probate Resources – Londonderry, New Hampshire
        • Probate Resources – North Andover, MA
        • Probate Resources – Wakefield, Massachusetts
        • Woburn, MA Probate Resources
      • The Mourner’s Bill of Rights
      • Things You Need To Do When a Loved One Passes Away With a Trust
      • Things You Need To Do When a Loved One Passes Away With a Will
      • Trust Administration & Probate Definitions
    • Published Books
  • Live Seminars
    • Online Seminars
    • In-Person Seminars
  • Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Review Us

DeBruyckere Law Offices, PC

Serving Southern New Hampshire & Essex Country, Massachussetts

Call us today(603) 894-4141

(978) 969-0331

Online Seminars
Attend Free Seminar
Home » Special Needs » Billions Gone: Medicare Advantage Plans Overcharges

Billions Gone: Medicare Advantage Plans Overcharges

January 12, 2016Special Needs

Letter of Last Instructions

In the one area of the federal government’s program budgeting that demands a higher commitment to accuracy and accountability, the collective Medicare Advantage Plans programs show neither. In a years-long investigation, complete with mounting evidence at every turn, there are still countless cases of government overpay. Our seniors and elderly are the ones who shoulder the results from a lack of oversight.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently revealed that as far back as 2008, there have been a specific group of privately-run Medicare Advantage plans that are believed to be stealing from the government. In fact, they even have a special name: “high-flyers.” These high-flyers are stealing from every taxpayer in the country.

Even worse, there are only around 30 audits being conducted annually when CMS budgets allow for more than 80 audits each year. Instead, CMS proposed to the White House Office of Management and Budget that only the 30 audits be conducted. This means around 30 contracts, out of more than 600, face audits each year.

If this isn’t disturbing enough, CMS promised to complete audits from 2011 and begin recouping those overpayments by 2014. That has not happened. Now, it’s saying it “anticipates completing the audits in 2016”.

It wasn’t until the Center for Public Integrity sued under the Freedom of Information Act to gain access to those files that the truth came to light.

As many of our clients know, the Medicare Advantage plans, which are privately run, offer seniors an alternative to traditional Medicare. At the end of 2014, there were more than 17 million Americans who’ve chosen these plans. This equates to around one-third of those eligible for Medicare coverage.

The Center’s lawsuit has revealed what many are now saying is “widespread suspicions that some risk scores are being purposefully inflated”. While the FOIA served a purpose, what the Center received was thousands of heavily redacted documents and close to 1500 were blacked out in their entirety. This includes the names of health plans and how much they were overpaid. Those familiar with the investigation are saying there is too much secrecy surrounding the audit and the lack of effort to stop the overpayments. In fact, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley said, “The agencies are responsible for getting the payments right in the first place and pursuing full refunds of all over-payments for the taxpayers. They have an obligation to be as transparent as possible about audits, over-payments and everything else in the public interest about a taxpayer-funded program.”

What was available in the documents are details that reveal taxpayers are paying far more for the audits than what they’re receiving as a result of the audits.

As estate planning lawyers, we understand the budgetary struggles seniors face. No one’s purpose is served when so much waste occurs with no oversight and no interest in correcting the problems. It’s time for a more aggressive effort by decision makers. We hope it comes sooner rather than later.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Daniel DeBruyckere
Daniel DeBruyckere
Attorney Daniel A. DeBruyckere has been practicing law in New Hampshire and Massachusetts since 1998, and has helped hundreds of clients with their estate planning and elder care issues. He is very well respected in the area of estate planning, probate, trust administration, elder law issues, and business planning.
Daniel DeBruyckere
Latest posts by Daniel DeBruyckere (see all)
  • If You Are a Parent Estate Planning Is Essential - January 14, 2021
  • Is It Too Late for Medicaid Planning to Help Me? - January 12, 2021
  • Updating Your Plan: Powers of Attorney - January 7, 2021

Other Articles You May Find Useful

DeBruyckere Law Offices, PC | Estate Planning & Medicaid Attorneys
Special Needs Planning for Grandparents
Special needs planning
Can Special Needs Planning Protect My Child’s Inheritance?
How a Special Needs Trust Can Protect Government Benefits
Residents with Special Needs or Alzheimer ’s Disease Now Have New Police Program in New Hampshire
DeBruyckere Law Offices, PC | Estate Planning & Medicaid Attorneys
Your Social Security and COLA
DeBruyckere Law Offices, PC | Estate Planning & Medicaid Attorneys
DOJ Ramps Up its Online Complaint Process for Disabled

DeBruyckere Law Offices, PC

Download our free Estate Planning Worksheet

There's a lot that goes into setting up a comprehensive estate plan, but with our FREE worksheet, you'll be one step closer to getting yourself and your family on the path to a secure and happy future.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Please fill out the form below:
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Youtube

Blog Subscribe

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Testimonials

I felt complete trust and confidence in Dan DeBruyckere and his staff. They have a caring, low-key approach and there is no pressure to add products to the estate plan; rather he makes me aware of changes in the law, etc. I always learn something new to assist me in our planning!

LN

Your seminar was the only seminar we attended without financial advisors wanting to invest our money instead of protecting it! The information this firm provided was easy to understand even though it is a difficult topic. Thank you for all of your help!

HR

We both felt so comfortable in they way our Estate Planning was handled. We felt like someone was watching out for our best interest. Everyone we worked with at the firm was thorough, and explained everything in a way where we could walk away feeling like everything was complete.

RS

A truly great experience all the way through. Felt like we were a part of the family! Thank you.

LW

We could not have picked a more qualified law firm. Everyone that we came in contact with made us feel at ease.

Happy Client

We were very impressed with the statements put forth by Dan at the Seminar. We were impressed even more by their down to earth approach and the efficiency they accomplished it all.

Charles

Londonderry Office

Londonderry Office
One Verani Way
Londonderry, NH 03053
Phone: (603) 894-4141

See Larger Map Get Directions

Nashua Office

Nashua Office
76 Northeastern Boulevard, Unit 31B
Nashua, NH 03062
Phone: (603) 894-4141

See Larger Map Get Directions

North Andover Office

North Andover Office
231 Sutton St, Suite 1B
North Andover, MA 01845
Phone: (978) 686-4645

See Larger Map Get Directions

Woburn Office

Woburn Office
444 Washington Street, Suite 503
Woburn, MA 01801
Phone: (978) 969-0331

See Larger Map Get Directions

By Appointment Only

BEVERLY OFFICE

Beverly Office
900 Cummings Center Suite 204-U
Beverly, MA 01915
Phone: (978) 969-0331

See Larger Map Get Directions

Office Hours

Monday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Map

dadlawoffices_sidbr_map
  • Advantages of Working With Our Firm
  • About The American Academy
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact Us

Connect with Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Youtube
footer-logo

© 2021 DeBruyckere Law Offices
All Right Reseved.

Attorney Advertisement

© 2021 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.