Fiserv Solution to Help US Government Agencies Reduce Improper Payments
Financial services technology solutions group Fiserv has launched a payment accuracy and fraud solution to reduce improper payments for US federal government agencies. The professional services engagement will allow government agencies to reduce the overall loss of cash associated with improper disbursement and recovery of funds, enabling that money to instead be used for citizens and taxpayers.
The group commented that improper payments can include payments to the wrong person, for the wrong amount, or to citizens who are no longer eligible for benefits. In 2012, improper payments made by the federal government to citizens were estimated to total US$108bn. It is estimated that at least one third of improper payments are due to fraud, while two-thirds are the result of errors or incorrect information. Using a rigorous process and data analysis, the Fiserv solution finds and eliminates process variation, waste and opportunities for error that may result in payment inaccuracy.
The solution pinpoints root causes and areas in the payment cycle where improper payments can be detected, mitigated and prevented. This diagnostic professional services engagement includes discovery sessions, interviews, hands-on process observation, mapping, data collection and analysis with the goal of delivering an actionable roadmap that enables the identification, mitigation or elimination of the majority of improper payments.
Fiserv then works closely with the agencies to optimize the processes and identify the need for change, then creates detailed specifications for any technology solutions needed to address points of failure that may result in improper payments. Finally, the group creates and operates the new process or technology platform, or helps the agency manage the new environment using internal resources.
“At a time when resources are scarce at every level of government, public officials can no longer look at improper payments as a cost of doing business,” said Ray Kalustyan, senior vice president (SVP) and managing director, government services, Fiserv.