Press Release  Bump's Office Accepts NSAA Excellence in Accountability Award

Beaver Creek, CO — Yesterday, at a ceremony at the National State Auditor’s Association (NSAA) Annual Conference in Beaver Creek, Colorado, representatives from the office of State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump accepted an NSAA Excellence in Accountability award. Bump’s Medicaid Unit received the award for an audit of MassHealth’s administration of Managed Care Organizations and related fee-for-service payments. The audit found over half-a-billion dollars in improper or unnecessary payments, and missed savings opportunities by MassHealth.

“Ensuring state agencies are accountable to residents of the Commonwealth for the use their tax dollars is a critical component to restoring public trust in government,” Bump said of the award. “I’m honored that our office has been recognized by our peers as a leader in the promotion of accountability, transparency, and innovation in government.”

Changes made in response to this audit are estimated to save approximately $10 million annually. As a result of the audit, MassHealth has implemented changes to its system to better detect and deny claims for members’ services covered by MCOs. It has also implemented increased controls of MCO contracts to ensure appropriate coverage and payment of contract services, and has engaged MCOs in the creation of a master code list to identify MCO covered verses non-covered services.

The nominations were judged by other state auditors across the country, and were evaluated on a number of criteria, including the audit’s impact on state government, its use of innovation and the actions that resulted from the audit findings.

The NSAA is part of the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers, (NASACT) whose mission is to assist state leaders to enhance and promote effective and efficient management of governmental resources.

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