A recent audit by a federal watchdog has uncovered inconsistencies in how states report data on Medicaid drug costs, raising concerns about the accuracy of the information used to oversee the program. The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General released a report on Thursday that highlighted these issues.
The audit found that some states were not consistently validating the data on how much pharmacies were reimbursed for dispensing drugs to Medicaid patients enrolled in managed care plans. This raises questions about the reliability of the information being reported and its implications for the oversight of the program.
Out of the 36 states that covered outpatient prescription drugs for Medicaid through managed care plans in January 2022, only 28 states required the plans to report the paid amounts accurately. This discrepancy in reporting practices among states further complicates the process of tracking and monitoring Medicaid drug costs.
Overall, the findings from the audit suggest that there are gaps and inadequacies in how states report data on Medicaid drug costs, which could have repercussions for the accuracy and efficiency of the program. This highlights the need for improved data validation processes and more consistent reporting practices across states to ensure the integrity of Medicaid drug spending data.
