Florida Democrats ask CMS to explain overcharging of Medicare beneficiaries

Florida Democratic Reps. Robert Wexler, Alcee Hastings, Ron Klein and Debbie Wasserman Schultz last week sent a letter to CMS acting Administrator Leslie Norwalk requesting information regarding a computer glitch that withdrew money from some Medicare beneficiaries' Social Security checks, The Hill reports (Young, The Hill , 4/26).

Tens of thousands of Medicare beneficiaries nationwide who were enrolled in one of the few HMOs that paid all or part of their Part B premiums for 2006 have waited as long as 15 months for refunds of as much as $1,062 because of computer problems. The HMOs sent the payments to CMS for distribution to beneficiaries, but not all beneficiaries have received the refunds. CMS officials earlier this month said computer problems and incorrect data entries caused the delay in distribution of the refunds ( Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 4/13).

The lawmakers wrote, "Our congressional offices have contacted your offices, but CMS has not even given a timeframe by which this issue will be resolved," adding, "We, therefore, respectfully ask that you provide our offices with a direct and comprehensive update on this unacceptable situation and demand that CMS immediately fix this problem" (Young, The Hill , 4/26).