Nearly 1 in 4 Medicare Tube Feeding Claims Was Paid Incorrectly in 2024, CMS Says

CMS reported in its July 23, 2026, Medicare Learning Network newsletter that the improper payment rate for enteral nutrition reached 23.8 percent in 2024, with a projected improper payment total of 31.1 million dollars. Enteral nutrition delivers liquid nutrients through a tube for people who cannot absorb enough food by mouth because of illness, surgery, cancer treatment, a neurological condition, or a swallowing disorder. Medicare covers it as durable medical equipment under Part B when documentation requirements are met. According to CMS, insufficient documentation is the leading driver of errors, accounting for 48.8 percent of improper payments. Medical necessity issues contribute another 27.6 percent of errors, with other mistakes making up the rest. CMS reminded suppliers and treating practitioners that a complete written order and a face-to-face evaluation of the patient's condition are generally required to support a claim. When a claim is denied because of a documentation problem, beneficiaries who depend on tube feeding may face billing disputes and uncertainty about their coverage while providers appeal or resubmit. CMS has published compliance guidance and educational resources on its website to help suppliers and clinicians meet documentation standards for this service. The reminder is part of a continuing CMS effort to reduce improper payments across Medicare fee-for-service programs, which the agency tracks and reports annually.