Audit finds $21K in payment errors

Audit Issue

Our client amended its health plan to increase the copay by $10.00 for all office visits including outpatient mental health/substance abuse services.

Audit Finding

When the TPA re-programmed its system to change the office visit copay, it neglected to recognize the procedure code for psychotherapy visits; thus processing benefits at the outdated copay amount.

TPA Response

In its manual review of the documented plan changes for the new benefit year, the TPA overlooked psychotherapy as an office visit procedure, and agreed that overpayments were made in the amount of $10.00 for each psychotherapy visit.

Financial Error

We systemically identified 2,100 psychotherapy office visit charges overpaid in the amount of $21,000 for the calendar year audited.