HHS Finds ‘Questionable Billing’ for Compounded Topical Drugs in Medicare Part D

The HHS Office of Inspector General flagged “questionable billing” and rapid growth in Medicare Part D spending for compounded topical drugs in a report released Thursday.

Citing possible fraud and abuse, OIG said compounded topical drug spending for 2016 was 24 times higher than in 2010 and some 550 pharmacies had questionable Part D billing for the drugs.

“These pharmacies warrant further scrutiny. They each billed extremely high amounts for at least one of five measures that OIG has developed as indicators of possible fraud, waste or abuse,” it said.