Review of Outpatient Pharmacy Services Provided By The Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 1998

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The objective of our review was to determine whether outpatient pharmacy services at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (the Hospital) were billed for and reimbursed in accordance with Medicare regulations.  Based on a statistical sample, we estimated that the Hospital had overstated its FY 1998 Medicare outpatient pharmacy charges by at least $221,905.  We determined that the Hospital billed Medicare for medications not properly supported by medical records and for medications not reimbursable by Medicare.  We noted that the Hospital did not establish or follow existing procedures for the proper billing and record keeping of outpatient pharmacy services.

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