Obama Puts Pressure on “Incorrect Disbursements”

Saturday, November 28, 2009
(AP Photo)

The Obama administration wants to use the Internet to expose mistakes by federal agencies that result in contractors or medical providers being paid more than they should for their services or products. After realizing the amount of improper payments leaped from $72 billion in 2008 to $98 billion this year, President Barack Obama decided to issue an executive order mandating all U.S. government offices to publish on their websites details about who was overpaid and how much. Other information to be posted will show previous improper payments and how much has been repaid. Websites also will include email links for the public to report suspected waste or fraud.

 
The majority of excess payments last year involved Medicaid and Medicare providers, who accounted for $55 billion in mistaken payments. Other major sources of improper payments included Social Security, veterans’ benefits and unemployment insurance.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
 
Obama Executive Order Targets Payment Errors (by Robert Brodsky, Government Executive)

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