Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert

Plus: CMS will continue to pay for oxygen supplies, despite potential news to the contrary.

When the OIG issues an audit report, it usually spells big trouble, with reports of big money misspent or overbilled. But a new skilled nursing facility (SNF) audit report shows that not all audits produce horrid headlines.

On Dec. 4, the OIG issuedits report, "Review of High Dollar Skilled Nursing Facility Claims Processed by Cahaba Government Benefit Administrators," which examined claims submitted between Jan. 1, 2004, and Dec. 31, 2006.

Of 89 high-dollar payments (those over $50,000) reviewed during the audit, 84 of the claims were appropriate, and only $2,303 was found to be overpaid to the SNFs.

You can read the full audit report at www.oig.hhs.gov/oas/reports/region4/40800053.pdf.