HHS OIG’s Active Work Plan Items – COVID-19
HHS’ Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released an updated list of its Active Work Plan Items reflective of OIG’s audits, evaluations, and inspections that are underway or planned in determination of providers’ compliance with temporary authorities during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The newly-announced items include:
– COVID-19 Testing Data From Federal Programs. The CARES Act created the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) in order to promote transparency, support oversight, and detect/prevent fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the federal government’s COVID-19 response. PRAC members include Offices of Inspectors General (OIG) from the Departments of Defense (DoD), Education, Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor (DOL), and Veterans Affairs (VA), as well as the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). HHS-OIG will work with PRAC to produce a data brief describing COVID-19 testing in federal health-related programs managed or operated by these agencies to help provide transparency and inform policymakers about COVID-19 testing resources in federal programs.
– HHS and ASPR Actions Related to Resources, Supplies, and Treatments Needed to Address COVID-19. HHS OIG will examine actions taken by HHS, including the Office of Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), to protect public health in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement notes that HHS may take a variety of actions, and specifically notes actions related to resources, supplies, and treatments needed to address COVID-19.
– Infection Control at Home Health Agencies During the COVID-19 Pandemic. HHS OIG will interview corporate officers from the three Home Health Agency providers with the largest market share in 2019 as well as HHAs that have recently been cited by CMS for infection control and prevention deficiencies to determine the extent to which their infection control and prevention policy and procedures comply with CMS guidance regarding COVID-19.(Note, OIG references CMS’ March 10 CMS State Survey Directors Letter, “Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention Concerning Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Home Health Agencies (HHAs).”)