How many days must Medicare overpayments be returned after discovery?

The correct answer is 60 days. Under the rules governing Medicare overpayments, healthcare providers who discover they have received overpayments are required to report and return those funds within a specified timeframe. This 60-day period is set to ensure prompt resolution of overpayments, which helps maintain the integrity of the Medicare program and prevents unnecessary accumulation of funds that should not have been paid.

Returning overpayments within this timeframe is essential not only for compliance with Medicare regulations but also to avoid potential penalties or additional scrutiny. This 60-day requirement emphasizes the importance of diligence in financial practices within healthcare, ensuring that any payments in excess of what was warranted due to billing errors or other reasons are addressed swiftly.