Lack Of Device Identifiers On Recalled Cardiac Devices Cost Medicare $1.5Bn, OIG Says

04 Oct 2017

• By Sue Darcey

Medicare lost $1.5bn in claims over a 10-year period to cover procedures to fix or replace seven faulty cardiac devices due to the lack of product-specific information on its claims form for malfunctioning defibrillators and pacemakers, says the US HHS Office of Inspector General. Recalls of Medtronic, Boston Scientific and Abbott/St. Jude Medical cardiac rhythm management devices are likely behind most of the cost.

The US Health and Human Services Department's Inspector General says that covering procedures to replace or repair damage caused by seven recalled or "prematurely failed" cardiac devices cost the Medicare program $1.5bn between 2004-2014, due to lack of information on claim forms about the devices' identity.

"The lack of information on the claim forms prevents the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) from being able...