This government initiative aims to eliminate fraud and abuse, involving audits to identify Medicare overpayments:

The initiative aimed at eliminating fraud and abuse within the Medicare program is exemplified by the Recovery Audit Contractors (RAC). This program, established as part of the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003, conducts audits specifically designed to identify and recover Medicare overpayments made to healthcare providers. The RACs analyze claims and payment data, ensuring that payments align with Medicare regulations and identifying instances of improper billing or services not rendered.

The effectiveness of the RAC program lies in its ability to identify discrepancies through comprehensive audits, enabling the recovery of improperly paid funds while also addressing issues of waste, fraud, and abuse. This commitment to improving the accuracy of claims and ensuring accountability is essential for maintaining the integrity of the Medicare system.

In contrast, the other options—such as Clinical Data Abstraction Centers, Quality Improvement Organizations, and Medicare Code Editors—focus on different aspects of healthcare quality, data management, and coding accuracy, which do not specifically address the recovery of Medicare overpayments through audits aimed at fraud and abuse.