From a recent report by Social Security's Office of Inspector General (OIG):
CMS [Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services]data could help SSA determine the suitability of organizational payee applicants and existing organizational payees that are nursing homes. Generally, the Agency relies on information provided by organizational payees and monitoring reviews to assess 15 suitability factors. However, these sources were not sufficient in providing the Agency with reliable information to assess four of these factors. However, CMS’ nursing home data could provide SSA with useful, relevant, timely, and independent information related to 11 of the 15 suitability factors, including the 4 factors for which the Agency did not have a reliable source for evaluation.
SSA determined that 38 organizational payees were suitable and qualified to serve beneficiaries even though CMS deemed them as chronically underperforming or assessed them the highest fines because of serious and uncorrected deficiencies. From 2012 to 2016, CMS assessed the organizational payees 1,675 deficiencies and issued them $9.5 million in penalties. Further, CMS terminated six of the organizational payees from Medicare /Medicaid for providing substandard quality care; four subsequently closed. SSA conducts monitoring reviews for organizational payees that meet certain criteria. Since 2012, SSA had reviewed 3 of the 38 organizational payees and did not identify any issues that affected their suitability. One of the organizational payees had since closed.
Why should SSA continue to be responsible for the payee program? The $25M annual giveaway to NDRN and the state P&As passed last week should be more than enough for them to manage the program. Clearly Sam Johnson, Ways and Means, and the SSAB believe lobbyists can do better. And when the next Linda Weston, Henry's Turkey Farm, or other gruesome payee situation arises they'll surely be prepared to be hauled up before lawmakers and explain their performance. Good luck to Curt Decker and his greedy group of thieves!
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