The OIG issued a report today entitled "Inconsistencies in States' Reporting of the Federal Share of Medicaid Drug Rebates." States are eligible for higher federal financial participation (FFP) rates for certain Medical Assistance services, such as those related to family planning, Indian Health Services, and breast and cervical cancer care. Based on prior work, the OIG was concerned that states may not always use the higher FFP rates when refunding to the federal government its share of drug rebates that drug manufacturers paid to the states, which could result in a loss of federal share. The new OIG report assesses whether states reported drug rebates at the applicable FFP rates for the period July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012. According to the OIG, while states claimed drug expenditures at higher FFP rates, they did not consistently report the federal share of drug rebates at those higher FFP rates for one or more quarters during the review period. The OIG also found that states used different methodologies to determine the federal share of drug rebates, which could be attributed to a lack of specific national CMS guidance instructing states to report drug rebates at the FFP rates at which drugs were originally reimbursed or that identifies acceptable methods to determine the federal share of drug rebates. The OIG recommended that CMS issue guidance that clearly instructs states to report drug rebates at the applicable FFP rates and identify acceptable methods to determine the federal share of drug rebates; CMS concurred.
This article is presented for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice.