Which two government entities produce annual reports reviewing Medicare payments?

• A. The OIG and GAO
• B. MedPAC and CMS
• C. GAO and CBO
• D. OIG and HHS

Answer: (A)

Auditing and evaluating Medicare payments is done by independent oversight offices that report directly to Congress on a regular basis. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) within HHS conducts audits and evaluations of Medicare programs and publishes annual (and semiannual) reports detailing findings on payment integrity, fraud, waste, and opportunities to improve program effectiveness. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) serves as Congress’s independent auditing agency and also compiles annual and other reports examining Medicare payment systems, accuracy, and overall program performance. Together, they provide the kind of yearly scrutiny Congress relies on to oversee Medicare payments and push for improvements.

MedPAC, while it produces annual policy-focused reports to Congress, is a Congressional advisory body rather than an inspector general; CMS administers Medicare but does not issue an annual independent review of Medicare payments. The CBO focuses on budget projections and long-term cost estimates rather than routine annual payments reviews, and HHS as a department is broader than a specific annual Medicare payment review.