Oversight Audiophiles

The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General issued two new reports that address the identification, reporting and investigation of incidents of potential abuse and neglect of our nation's most vulnerable populations, including seniors and individuals with developmental disabilities.

The Medicaid program serves more people than any other Federal healthcare program. To ensure that Medicaid can continue serving the nation's most vulnerable populations, corrupt providers must be kept out of the program.

An estimated 13 percent of children enrolled in Medicaid have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - or ADHD, which is a common neurobehavioral disorder. A new national report by the HHS Office of Inspector General found that many Medicaid-enrolled children with ADHD did not receive recommended follow up services.

OIG provides oversight of the Unaccompanied Alien Children program that is managed by HHS' Office of Refugee Resettlement, or ORR. In the summer of 2018, OIG conducted site visits and data collection at 45 facilities in ten states that provide temporary care to unaccompanied children. This large, multifaceted review focused on the health and safety of children in HHS custody. OIG is publishing a series of reports resulting from this review, including work that identifies challenges facilities experienced in addressing children's mental health needs.

In the summer of 2018, OIG conducted a series of site visits at facilities funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement, or ORR. At that time, ORR was experiencing a surge of children in its custody, under the Unaccompanied Alien Children Program. A recent OIG review focused on ORR-funded facilities' efforts to maintain appropriate levels of qualified, screened facility employees, including when the UAC program experiences a sudden change in the number or needs of children.

In August 2018, HHS-OIG started a national review to examine challenges faced by ORR-funded facilities. The agency looked at the facilities' efforts to protect unaccompanied children in their care and to provide needed physical and mental health services. OIG is releasing multiple reports in 2019 that detail findings from this national review.

Dr. Michael Cohen, an operations officer in the Office of Investigations, is interviewed by Tyler Daniels, a public affairs specialist in Washington DC.

Kimberly Ruppert, team leader in the Office of Evaluation and Inspections in Boston, is interviewed by Katherine Harris, a public affairs specialist in Washington, DC.

Jarvis Rodgers, the HHS-OIG IT Audit Director, is interviewed by Sheila Davis, a public affairs specialist in Washington, DC.

A recap of OIG's work in 2017, including topics like reaching a $155 million civil settlement with an electronic health records vendor, releasing a data brief on opioids in Medicare Part D highlighting concerns about extreme use and questionable prescribing, and the largest healthcare fraud takedown in history.

Ed Burley, Deputy Regional Inspector General in the Office of Evaluation and Inspections in Philadelphia, is interviewed by Sheila Davis, a public affairs specialist in Washington, DC.

Chris Covington, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the Atlanta Regional Office, is interviewed by Todd Silver, a senior communications specialist in Washington, D.C.

Amy Ashcraft, Deputy Regional Inspector General in the Office of Evaluation and Inspections in Dallas, is interviewed by Melissa Rumley, a public affairs specialist in Washington, D.C.

A recap of OIG's work in 2018, including topics like reaching a $155 million civil settlement with an electronic health records vendor, releasing a data brief on opioids in Medicare Part D highlighting concerns about extreme use and questionable prescribing, and the largest healthcare fraud takedown in history.

OIG released a portfolio that found significant problems with quality of care, as well as improper billing in the Medicare hospice program.