Semi-automated review is described as which of the following in Medicare recovery auditing?

• A. one of the three processes followed by Recovery Auditors to identify improper payments; the review is determined by data mining but records may be sent to justify the charges
• B. a manual chart audit
• C. an automated system that never requires documentation
• D. a random sampling of payments with no data analysis

Answer: (D)

Semi-automated review blends automated data analysis with human judgment. In Medicare recovery auditing, data mining flags potential improper payments, creating items for closer scrutiny, and records can be requested and reviewed to determine whether the charges are justified. This captures the hybrid nature of semi-automation: automated screening followed by manual review of the supporting documentation. The other descriptions don’t fit that mix—one describes a fully manual chart audit, another a system that requires no documentation, and the last suggests random sampling with no data analysis—none reflect the combination of automated flagging with documentation-based review.