Medicare: Contractors Screen Employees but Extent of Screening Varies

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the use of employee screening measures by Medicare claims administration and program safeguard contractors, focusing on the: (1) requirements the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) has placed on Medicare contractors to conduct employee background checks; (2) steps Medicare contractors are taking to ensure that employees are trustworthy in handling Medicare funds and sensitive information; and (3) costs to Medicare contractors of conducting background checks or using other employee screening measures.