CMS was unable to ensure ...

...  that federal premium subsidies paid to carriers in 2014 were tied only to enrollees who had paid their premiums, according to a report issued on Jan. 6 by HHS's Office of Inspector General. According to the report, CMS relied on each carrier to verify that enrollees paid their monthly premiums and to attest that subsidies were accurate. Subsidies paid to carriers might have been incorrect, the report concludes. HHS is moving to an automated system early this year that is expected to solve the problems. Last October, investigators from the Government Accountability Office told a House subcommittee that they had little trouble obtaining coverage and federal subsidies after creating fictitious insurance exchange applications ....