GAO Reports
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a report entitled "Medicare Part D: Plan Sponsors' Processing and CMS Monitoring of Drug Coverage Requests Could Be Improved," which recommends that CMS and Part D drug plan sponsors take steps to improve the appeals process for beneficiaries seeking coverage for a drug not included in their plan. In addition, another GAO report reviewed the results of the Physician Group Practice (PGP) Demonstration, which is testing hybrid payment methodology for physician groups that combines Medicare fee-for-service payments with new incentive payments for achieving cost savings and meeting quality targets. The GAO found that few participating plans have been eligible for bonus payments because they did not achieve the required cost savings.
