Zone Program Integrity Contractors, or ZPICs, are used by CMS to do what?

• A. Zone Program Integrity Contractors
• B. Identify problem areas, investigate fraud, and develop fraud cases for referrals to law enforcement
• C. Accredit hospitals
• D. Approve Medicare payments

Answer: (B)

Zone Program Integrity Contractors focus on protecting the Medicare program by identifying weaknesses and patterns of fraud, waste, and abuse in claims data across geographic zones. They analyze data to flag problem areas, perform investigations, gather evidence, and develop fraud cases that can be referred to law enforcement for enforcement actions. This is why the description emphasizing identifying problem areas, investigating fraud, and developing fraud cases for referrals to law enforcement is the best fit. They do not accredit hospitals—that function belongs to separate accreditation bodies—and they do not directly approve Medicare payments; payment decisions are handled by CMS through other entities, while ZPICs concentrate on integrity, investigations, and pursuing recoupment or referrals.