Medicaid:
Further Action Needed to Expedite Use of National Data for Program Oversight
GAO-18-70: Published: Dec 8, 2017. Publicly Released: Jan 8, 2018.
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State-reported data help the federal government oversee the Medicaid program, which made an estimated $36.7 billion in payment errors in 2017. However, there have been longstanding concerns that those data are not sufficient for effective oversight.
To help, federal administrators established a new data repository. Nearly all states now submit data that could be used to improve oversight and program management. However, concerns persist over the completeness and comparability of state data.
We recommended federal administrators take steps to expedite collection of complete and comparable data, and draft a plan for how they will use the data.
States Reporting Data to the New Repository, the Federal Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System (T-MSIS), as of November 2017
A map of the United States showing which states are participating and when they started.
Multimedia:
Additional Materials:
- Highlights Page:
- Full Report:
- Accessible Version:
Contact:
(202) 512-7114
yocomc@gao.gov
Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
youngc1@gao.gov
What GAO Found
As of November 2017, 49 states had begun reporting Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System (T-MSIS) data—a significant increase from 18 states reporting these data one year earlier. All eight states GAO reviewed identified converting their data to the T-MSIS format on an element-by-element basis as the main challenge in their reporting efforts. For some data elements, states had to expand or collapse their data to match the T-MSIS format.
Examples of Possible Relationships in Converting State Data Elements and T-MSIS Elements
With the continued implementation of T-MSIS, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has taken an important step toward developing a reliable national repository for Medicaid data. However, data challenges have hindered states' and CMS's use of the T-MSIS data for oversight.
- None of the six selected states reporting T-MSIS data in August 2017 was reporting complete data. These states said that certain unreported elements were contingent on federal or state actions, and others were not applicable to the state's Medicaid program. States did not always specify in their documentation whether they planned to report elements in the future or when they would report complete data.
- Six of eight selected states expressed concerns about the comparability of T-MSIS data across states. Further, all states were interested in CMS facilitating information sharing among states. CMS has not compiled and shared information about states' data limitations, which would help states accurately compare their T-MSIS data to other states' T-MSIS data.
CMS has taken steps for the initial use of T-MSIS data, but does not have a plan or associated timeframes for using these data for oversight. As a result, important CMS goals for T-MSIS, such as reducing states' reporting burden and enhancing program integrity activities, are not being fully realized.
Why GAO Did This Study
GAO and others have identified insufficiencies in state-reported Medicaid data that affect CMS's ability to oversee the program effectively. Recent increases in improper payments—estimated at $36.7 billion in fiscal year 2017—exacerbate concerns about program oversight.
CMS officials identified the T-MSIS initiative, which began in 2011, as its main effort to improve Medicaid data, and cited aspects of T-MSIS aimed at improving the scope and quality of state-reported data. GAO reported in January 2017 that it is unclear when T-MSIS data will be available from all states; how CMS will ensure data quality; or how the data will be used to enhance oversight of Medicaid.
GAO was asked to review states' experiences with T-MSIS implementation and planned uses of T-MSIS data. This report examines (1) states' experiences regarding T-MSIS implementation, and (2) challenges to CMS's and states' use of T-MSIS data for oversight. GAO reviewed federal laws, guidance, and internal control standards; reviewed documents and interviewed officials from eight states, selected based on their T-MSIS reporting status, location, program expenditures, and other factors; and interviewed CMS officials, CMS contractors, and individuals involved with other states' T-MSIS efforts.
What GAO Recommends
GAO recommends that CMS (1) improve T-MSIS's completeness and comparability to expedite its use, and (2) articulate a specific oversight plan. The Department of Health and Human Services concurred with GAO's recommendations.
For more information, contact Carolyn L. Yocom at (202) 512-7114 or yocomc@gao.gov.
Recommendations for Executive Action
Status: Open
Priority recommendation
Comments: HHS concurred with this recommendation. As of June 2019, CMS has taken steps to improve T-MSIS data quality, but further efforts are needed to expedite the data's use in oversight. With regard to obtaining complete information from all states, CMS released additional guidance in March 2019, regarding state compliance with T-MSIS requirements. This guidance includes the need to resolve data issues associated with 12 top priority items and missing data elements, both of which are key for using T-MSIS data. CMS has also identified six additional data priority items and plans to implement five more. CMS also reports that it has been working with states on T-MSIS data quality efforts through meetings, which has resulted in developing additional guidance. However, CMS reports that the level of states' T-MSIS data completeness varies and agency state liaisons and technical assistants continue to work individually with states to identify, prioritize, and resolve key missing data elements. CMS has outlined enforcement actions and time frames it will take regarding non-compliance, including notifying states of their compliance status and asking non-compliant states to submit corrective action plans. With regard to identifying and sharing information, as well as implementing mechanisms for collaboration across states, additional CMS action is needed. In particular, CMS's efforts to create a mechanism for states to disseminate information about T-MSIS data and its comparability across states remain limited and the agency has not launched its proposed Learning Collaborative to facilitate ongoing feedback and collaboration. While progress has been made, additional actions, such as (1) obtaining information on the completeness and comparability of T-MSIS data, (2) notifying states of their compliance status and obtaining corrective action plans, and (3) establishing mechanisms for ongoing feedback and collaboration across states, are needed to consider this recommendation implemented.
Recommendation: The Administrator of CMS, in partnership with the states, should take additional steps to expedite the use of T-MSIS data for program oversight. Such steps should include, but are not limited to, efforts to (1) obtain complete information from all states on unreported T-MSISdata elements and their plans to report applicable data elements; (2) identify and share information across states on known T-MSIS datalimitations to improve data comparability; and (3) implement mechanisms, such as the Learning Collaborative, by whichstates can collaborate on an ongoing basis to improve thecompleteness, comparability, and utility of T-MSIS data.(Recommendation 1)
Agency Affected: Department of Health and Human Services: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Status: Open
Comments: HHS concurred with this recommendation. As of June 2019, CMS has taken steps to articulate guidance to states, but has not outlined a specific plan and associated time frames for using T-MSIS data for oversight. Until CMS takes these actions, the recommendation remains open.
Recommendation: The Administrator of CMS should articulate a specific plan and associated time frames for using T-MSIS data for oversight. (Recommendation 2)
Agency Affected: Department of Health and Human Services: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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