Audit finds overbilling for storm patients
From Times Wire Reports
A medical transport service overcharged the federal government nearly $2 million to evacuate sick or injured people during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, a government audit found.
CareFlite, based in Texas, billed the Department of Health and Human Services $5.7 million for transporting 810 patients, according to an audit by the agency’s inspector general.
The audit said there were times CareFlite used its own aircraft when it could have looked for less expensive transportation. The average cost for patient transport when CareFlite used its own plane was $18,200. For subcontractors, the average cost was $7,783, the audit said.
