A state audit found the Department of Public Safety spent too much on inmate care when hospitals overcharged the prison system.
The audit looked at the 10 largest hospital claims during the 12 months that ended June 30, 2012 and found that half overbilled the state. The amount paid for the 10 claims came to about $1 million. The Division of Adult Correction paid about $105,000 too much.
Because the audit was limited to 10 claims, the results cannot be used to draw conclusions about the 893 hospital claims the Division of Adult Correction reported it paid, the audit said.
The audit recommends the division try to get the money back and hire a professional audit firm. In its response, the Public Safety Department said it is looking to hire a claims management contractor that can prevent overpayments.
