◆ CMS said Nov. 16 that the Medicare fee-for-service improper payment rate dropped to 6.27% in FY 2020 from 7.25% last year, although CMS had to “modify” statistical methodology because it suspended audits for several months because of the COVID-19 pandemic.^[1]

◆ The Department of Justice said Nov. 16 that Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington, formerly known as Group Health Cooperative, agreed to pay $6.375 million to settle false claims allegations that it submitted invalid diagnoses for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries and received inflated payments.^[2]