NY Auditors Cite Progress Limiting Medicaid Drug Payments

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York's comptroller says state health officials have installed measures to block Medicaid payments to pharmacies providing narcotics and other controlled substances that exceed legal limits.

Following up on a February 2015 audit report, the comptroller's office says the health department has since instituted controls that resulted in denying about $3.3 million in claims through July.

Auditors say the department has also instructed managed care organizations to review improper claims and implement controls.

Many pharmaceuticals considered highly prone to abuse and addiction are limited by law to five-day supplies.

Auditors previously reported nearly $1.2 million overpaid to pharmacies from 2009 to 2013 in fee-for-service claims and 3,323 managed care claims that exceeded limits.

In the follow-up, they say less than $50,000 of that original $1.2 million has been recovered.

[STORY BY: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS]