Improper Payments Progress Made But Challenges Remain In Estimating And Reducing Improper Payments

Improper Payments: Progress Made But Challenges Remain in Estimating and Reducing Improper Payments

Improper payments are a long-standing, widespread, and significant problem in the fed. gov¿t. The Improper Payments Info. Act of 2002 (IPIA) has increased visibility over improper payments by requiring exec. branch agency heads to identify programs and activities susceptible to significant improper payments, estimate amounts improperly paid, and report on the amounts of improper payments and their actions to reduce them. This testimony addresses: (1) progress made in agencies' implementation of IPIA for FY 2008; and (2) several major challenges that continue to hinder full reporting of IPIA information. This testimony contains an overview of Medicare and Medicaid programs' implementation of IPIA. Charts and tables.

Improper Payments

The DoD is required, as are other fed. executive agencies, to report improper payment information under the Improper Payments Information Act of 2002 and recovery auditing information under section 831 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2002, commonly known as the Recovery Auditing Act. The DoD Office of Inspector General has previously reported deficiencies at DoD related to these acts. Because of these and other long-standing weaknesses, this report examines DoD's FY 2007 improper payment and recovery audit reporting to determine whether adequate processes existed to address both statutory requirements. Includes recommendations. Charts and tables.

Status of Fiscal Year 2010 Federal Improper Payments Reporting