OIG: Duke overstated Medicare wage data

A new report from the HHS office of the inspector general has concluded the Duke University Hospital overstated wage data by $9.3 million in its 2006 Medicare cost report. This data doesn't affect just Duke; in fact, the incorrect data could potentially cause overpayments to all of the hospitals in its Durham, NC statistical area for 2009. The erroneous data involved both misreported fringe benefits and the cost of services provided by nurse practitioners and clinical social workers, the auditors concluded. All told, the mistakes led to an average reported hourly wage rate of $31.51, 2 percent higher than it should have been, the OIG says. Duke is now working with the OIG to fix the errors.

To learn more about the omission:
- read this Modern Healthcare piece (reg. req.)