NC health plan audits 15 hospitals

RALEIGH, N.C. — State health plan officials are auditing 15 North Carolina hospitals to investigate if they overcharged for outpatient medical services.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reported Thursday that the 15 hospitals, including the state’s three mental hospitals, might have failed to notify the health plan of rate changes as far back as 2003. The investigation focuses on whether the state health plan may have overpaid the hospitals if they increased rates beyond contract terms without notifying the plan.

The state health plan covers 670,000 state workers, teachers and retirees.

Officials say the hospitals may owe no money to the state if their health care contracts included anticipated increases in their rates.

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