A recent GAO report assesses the effectiveness of Medicare Zone Program Integrity Contractors (ZPICs) -- contractors that perform program integrity activities designed to fight Medicare fraud, waste, and abuse. While the GAO notes that ZPICs take credit for over $250 million in Medicare savings in 2012 from actions such as stopping payment on suspect claims, the GAO observes that CMS would benefit from more data on whether quicker ZPIC action would lead to greater savings. The GAO therefore recommends that CMS (1) collect and evaluate information on the timeliness of ZPICs' investigative and administrative actions, and (2) develop ZPIC performance measures explicitly linking ZPICs' work to Medicare program integrity performance measures and goals.
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