U.S. OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OFFICE OF AUDITS Final Audit Report Subject: Audit of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program Operations at Aetna Open Access – Washington, D.C. Area Report No. 1C-JN-00-12-070 Date: February 6, 2013 -- CAUTION -- This audit report has been distributed to Federal officials who are responsible for the administration of the audited program. This audit report may contain proprietary data which is protected by Federal law (18 U.S.C. 1905). Therefore, while this audit report is available under the Freedom of Information Act and made available to the public on the OIG webpage, caution needs to be exercised before releasing the report to the general public as it may contain proprietary information that was redacted from the publicly distributed copy. AUDIT REPORT Federal Employees Health Benefits Program Community-Rated Health Maintenance Organization Aetna Open Access – Washington, D.C. Area Contract Number CS 1766 - Plan Code JN Blue Bell, Pennsylvania Report No. 1C-JN-00-12-070 Date: February 6,2013 Michael R. Esser Assistant Inspector General for Audits -- CAUTION -- This audit report has been distributed to Federal officials who are responsible for the administration of the audited program. This audit report may contain proprietary data which is protected by Federal law (18 U.S.C. 1905). Therefore, while this audit report is available under the Freedom of Information Act and made available to the public on the OIG webpage, caution needs to be exercised before releasing the report to the general public as it may contain proprietary information that was redacted from the publicly distributed copy. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Federal Employees Health Benefits Program Community-Rated Health Maintenance Organization Aetna Open Access – Washington, D.C. Area Contract Number CS 1766 - Plan Code JN Blue Bell, Pennsylvania Report No. 1C-JN-00-12-070 Date: February 6,2013 The Office of the Inspector General performed an audit of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) operations at Aetna Open Access – Washington, D.C. Area (Plan). The audit covered contract years 2009 through 2012, and was conducted at the Plan’s office in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. We found that the FEHBP rates were developed in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and the Office of Personnel Management’s rating instructions for the years audited. i CONTENTS Page EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................. i I. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND..................................................................... 1 II. OBJECTIVES, SCOPE, AND METHODOLOGY ......................................................... 3 III. RESULTS OF THE AUDIT ............................................................................................ 5 IV. MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS REPORT ............................................................ 6 I. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND Introduction We completed an audit of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) operations at Aetna Open Access – Washington, D.C. Area (Plan). The audit covered contract years 2009 through 2012, and was conducted at the Plan’s office in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. The audit was conducted pursuant to the provisions of Contract CS 1766; 5 U.S.C. Chapter 89; and 5 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Chapter 1, Part 890. The audit was performed by the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) Office of the Inspector General (OIG), as established by the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended. Background The FEHBP was established by the Federal Employees Health Benefits Act (Public Law 86- 382), enacted on September 28, 1959. The FEHBP was created to provide health insurance benefits for federal employees, annuitants, and dependents. The FEHBP is administered by OPM’s Healthcare and Insurance Office. The provisions of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Act are implemented by OPM through regulations codified in Chapter 1, Part 890 of Title 5, CFR. Health insurance coverage is provided through contracts with health insurance carriers who provide service benefits, indemnity benefits, or comprehensive medical services. Community-rated carriers participating in the FEHBP are subject to various federal, state and local laws, regulations, and ordinances. While most carriers are subject to state jurisdiction, many are further subject to the Health Maintenance Organization Act of 1973 (Public Law 93- 222), as amended (i.e., many community-rated carriers are federally qualified). In addition, participation in the FEHBP subjects the carriers to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Act and implementing regulations promulgated by OPM. The FEHBP should pay a market price FEHBP Contracts/Members March 31 rate, which is defined as the best rate offered to either of the two groups closest 120,000 in size to the FEHBP. In contracting with community-rated carriers, OPM relies on 100,000 carrier compliance with appropriate laws 80,000 and regulations and, consequently, does not negotiate base rates. OPM negotiations 60,000 relate primarily to the level of coverage 40,000 and other unique features of the FEHBP. 20,000 The chart to the right shows the number of 0 FEHBP contracts and members reported by 2009 2010 2011 2012 Contracts 50,881 49,758 49,254 48,320 the Plan as of March 31 for each contract Members 109,793 106,757 109,014 108,722 year audited. 1 The Plan has participated in the FEHBP since 1982 and provides health benefits to FEHBP members in all of Washington, D.C.; Northern, Central, and Southern Maryland; and Northern, Central, and Richmond, Virginia areas. The last audit of the Plan conducted by our office was in 2009, and covered contract years 2006 through 2008. The prior audit did not identify any deficiencies. The preliminary results of this audit were discussed with Plan officials at an exit conference and in subsequent correspondence. Since the audit concluded that the Plan’s rating of the FEHBP was in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and instructions, a draft report was not issued. 2 II. OBJECTIVES, SCOPE, AND METHODOLOGY Objectives The primary objectives of the audit were to verify that the Plan offered market price rates to the FEHBP and to verify that the loadings to the FEHBP rates were reasonable and equitable. Additional tests were performed to determine whether the Plan was in compliance with the provisions of the laws and regulations governing the FEHBP. Scope FEHBP Premiums Paid to Plan We conducted this performance audit in accordance with generally accepted government $600 auditing standards. Those standards require that $500 Millions we plan and perform the audit to obtain $400 sufficient, appropriate evidence to provide a $300 reasonable basis for our findings and conclusions $200 based on our audit objectives. We believe that $100 the evidence obtained provides a reasonable $0 basis for our findings and conclusions based on 2009 2010 2011 Revenue $463.8 $501.5 $554.2 our audit objectives. This performance audit covered contract years 2009 through 2012. For contract years 2009 through 2011, the FEHBP paid approximately $1.5 billion in premiums to the Plan, as shown on the chart above 1. OIG audits of community-rated carriers are designed to test carrier compliance with the FEHBP contract, applicable laws and regulations, and OPM rate instructions. These audits are also designed to provide reasonable assurance of detecting errors, irregularities, and illegal acts. We obtained an understanding of the Plan’s internal control structure, but we did not use this information to determine the nature, timing, and extent of our audit procedures. However, the audit included such tests of the Plan’s rating system and such other auditing procedures considered necessary under the circumstances. Our review of internal controls was limited to the procedures the Plan has in place to ensure that: • The appropriate similarly sized subscriber groups (SSSG) were selected; • the rates charged to the FEHBP were the market price rates (i.e., equivalent to the best rate offered to the SSSGs); and • the loadings to the FEHBP rates were reasonable and equitable. In conducting the audit, we relied to varying degrees on computer-generated billing, enrollment, and claims data provided by the Plan. We did not verify the reliability of the data generated by 1 At the time of the report, the 2012 Subscription Income Report was not available. 3 the various information systems involved. However, nothing came to our attention during our audit testing utilizing the computer-generated data to cause us to doubt its reliability. We believe that the available data was sufficient to achieve our audit objectives. Except as noted above, the audit was conducted in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards, issued by the Comptroller General of the United States. The audit fieldwork was conducted at the Plan’s office in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, during September 2012. Additional audit work was completed at our offices located in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, and Jacksonville, Florida. Methodology We examined the Plan’s Federal rate submissions and related documents as a basis for validating the market price rates. In addition, we examined the rate development documentation and billings to other groups, such as the SSSGs, to determine if the market price was actually charged to the FEHBP. Finally, we used the contract, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Acquisition Regulations, and OPM’s Rate Instructions to Community-Rated Carriers to determine the propriety of the FEHBP premiums and the reasonableness and acceptability of the Plan’s rating system. To gain an understanding of the internal controls in the Plan’s rating system, we reviewed the Plan’s rating system policies and procedures, interviewed appropriate Plan officials, and performed other auditing procedures necessary to meet our audit objectives. 4 III. RESULTS OF THE AUDIT Our audit showed that the Plan’s rating of the FEHBP was in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and OPM’s rating instructions to carriers for contract years 2009 through 2012. Consequently, the audit did not identify any questioned costs and no corrective action is necessary. 5 IV. MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS REPORT Community-Rated Audits Group , Auditor-in-Charge , Auditor , Auditor , Auditor ., Chief , Senior Team Leader 6
Audit of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program Operations at Aetna Open Access - Washington, D.C. Area
Published by the Office of Personnel Management, Office of Inspector General on 2013-02-06.
Below is a raw (and likely hideous) rendition of the original report. (PDF)