Media Materials

2018

07-31-2018: Vulnerabilities in Hospice Care
Hospices can provide much-needed pain relief and support to terminally ill patients, to give services and comfort to people at the end of life. However, the HHS OIG is releasing a hospice portfolio that summarizes the agency's work, which found significant problems with quality of care issues and improper billing in the Medicare hospice program.
06-28-2018: 2018 National Health Care Fraud Takedown
The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, along with our state and federal law enforcement partners, participated in the largest health care fraud takedown in history in June 2018. More than 600 defendants in 58 federal districts were charged with participating in fraud schemes involving about $2 billion in losses to Medicare and Medicaid.

2017

08-28-2017: Early Alert: Potential Abuse or Neglect at Skilled Nursing Facilities
This Early Alert provides the preliminary results of our ongoing review of potential abuse or neglect of Medicare beneficiaries in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). The audit is part of the ongoing efforts of the Office of Inspector General to detect and combat elder abuse. The objectives of our audit are to identify incidents of potential abuse or neglect of Medicare beneficiaries residing in SNFs and determine whether these incidents were reported and investigated in accordance with applicable requirements.
07-13-2017: 2017 National Takedown

The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, along with our state and federal law enforcement partners, participated in the largest health care fraud takedown in history in July 2017. More than 400 defendants in 41 federal districts were charged with participating in fraud schemes involving about $1.3 billion in false billings to Medicare and Medicaid. OIG also issued exclusion notices to 295 doctors, nurses, and other providers based on conduct related to opioid diversion and abuse. Takedowns protect Medicare and Medicaid and deter fraud -- sending a strong signal that theft from these taxpayer-funded programs will not be tolerated. The money taxpayers spend fighting fraud is an excellent investment: For every $1.00 spent on health care-related fraud and abuse investigations in the last three years, more than $5.00 has been recovered.

2016

10-04-2016: Medicaid Personal Care Services

In this investigative advisory, OIG identifies concerns about fraud and patient harm that build upon those outlined in a Portfolio report issued in November 2012, Medicaid Personal Care Services: Trends, Vulnerabilities, and Recommendations for Improvement.
07-13-2016: Child Care and Development Fund

The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) is a partnership between the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Administration for Children and Families and States. CCDF provides eligible, low-income families with help paying for child care at a provider of their choice. Around 1.5 million children receive a child care subsidy from the CCDF program every month. To address fraud, waste, and abuse in the CCDF program, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) uses a multidisciplinary approach, including a rigorous program of audits, investigations, and evaluations. The OIG also is undertaking an initiative to address challenges common to HHS grant programs through in-depth, targeted efforts. This initiative focuses on internal controls, program effectiveness, and prevention of fraud, waste, and abuse in grant programs.
06-22-2016: National Health Care Fraud Takedown 2016

The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, along with our state and federal law enforcement partners, participated in the largest health care fraud takedown in history in June 2016. Approximately 275 individuals in 30 judicial districts were charged for their alleged participation in Medicare and Medicaid fraud schemes involving about $800 million in false billings to these programs.
06-09-2016: FDA Food Recall Early Alert

OIG found that the Food and Drug Administration did not have an efficient and effective food recall initiation process that helps ensure the safety of the Nation's food supply. Specifically, FDA did not have policies and procedures to ensure that firms or responsible parties initiated voluntary food recalls promptly. This issue is a significant matter and requires FDA's immediate attention.