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Website
https://www.vaoig.gov/
Abbreviation
VA
Agencies
Department of Veterans Affairs
Federal Agency
Yes
Location

United States

What to Report to the OIG Hotline

The Hotline accepts tips or complaints that, on a select basis, result in reviews of: • VA-related criminal activity • Systemic patient safety issues • Gross mismanagement or waste of VA resources • Misconduct by senior VA officials The VA OIG investigates substantial allegations of whistleblower reprisal against employees of VA contractors, grantees, subgrantees, and personal services subcontractors. The VA OIG reports substantiated allegations of reprisal to the employer and VA for corrective action.

What Not to Report to the OIG Hotline

The Hotline does not accept complaints that are unrelated to programs and operations of the Department of Veterans Affairs nor that are addressed in another legal or administrative forum: TYPE OF COMPLAINT WHO SHOULD YOU CONTACT Claim for VA disability and pension benefits, and ratings, appeals, or home loan issues Veterans Benefits Administration (1-800-827-1000) Claim for VA education benefits Veterans Benefits Administration (1-888-442-4551) Patient health care dispute Patient Advocate at your local VA medical facility Tort claim or other legal issue/case/claim Local VA Regional Counsel office (202-461-4900) VA billing issues - Compliance and Business Integrity 1-866-842-4357 Litigation matters Private counsel; applicable court Employee grievances, unfair labor practices, union matters Local union representative, Federal Labor Relations Authority VA employee whistleblower retaliation issues U.S. Office of Special Counsel (1-800-872-9855) Other VA employee whistleblower issues and concerns about VA employee VA Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection performance and accountability (855-429-6669) or (202-461-4119) Whistleblower disclosures not related to the VA U.S. Office of Special Counsel (1-800-872-9855) Discrimination and EEO complaints for VA employees, former VA employees, VA Office of Resolution Management (1-888-566-3982) and applicants for VA positions Discrimination and complaints related to the Uniformed Services Employment U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) and the U.S. Office of Special Counsel Personnel actions/adverse action appeals/MSPB matters U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board Disagreement with law or other political dispute Your elected legislative official

Hotline Page
https://www.vaoig.gov/hotline/online-forms
Whistleblower Protection Page
https://www.vaoig.gov/hotline/whistleblower-protection-program

Inappropriate Community Care Consult Edits Unsubstantiated at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle, Washington

2023
22-01853-09
Review
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Department of Veterans Affairs

The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a review to assess the merits of a January 2022 hotline allegation concerning inappropriate edits to community care referrals, known as consults, at the Puget Sound VA Health Care System in Seattle, Washington. The VA MISSION Act of 2018 allows...

Improvements Needed to Reduce Duplicate Payments by VHA and Medicare and Ensure VHA Has Authorized Community Medical Services

2023
21-03630-250
Review
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Department of Veterans Affairs

The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted this review to determine whether community care providers are receiving potential duplicate payments for the same healthcare services from VHA and Medicare and to determine whether VHA paid any of these claims without authorization. In this review...

VBA Has Opportunities to Further Incorporate I CARE Values When Planning, Implementing, or Overseeing Programs

2023
22-01290-237
Other
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Department of Veterans Affairs

This management advisory memorandum has been issued to raise awareness among Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) leaders and personnel about VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) concerns with decision-making on specific issues (highlighted in four prior reports) that adversely affect some...

Architect of multi-million-dollar education fraud involving scuba dive shops sentenced to years in federal prison

Architect of multi-million-dollar education fraud involving scuba dive shops sentenced to years in federal prison
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

Architect of multi-million-dollar education fraud involving scuba dive shops sentenced to years in federal prison SAVANNAH, GA: A defendant who supervised a scheme to defraud more than $6 million from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) education programs through scuba diving schools has been,,,

South Florida Woman Sentenced To 3 Years For Her Role In A Health Care Fraud Conspiracy

South Florida Woman Sentenced To 3 Years For Her Role In A Health Care Fraud Conspiracy
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

South Florida Woman Sentenced To 3 Years For Her Role In A Health Care Fraud Conspiracy Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington has sentenced Ruth Bianca Fernandez (39, Pompano Beach) to three years in federal prison for her role in a conspiracy to commit health care fraud and,,,

VBA’s Compensation Service Did Not Fully Accommodate Veterans with Visual Impairments

2023
21-03063-04
Review
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Department of Veterans Affairs

The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted this review to determine whether the Compensation Service complied with accessibility requirements for communicating benefits- related information to veterans with visual impairments. The OIG found that VBA’s Compensation Service did not fully...

Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection of the Louisville VA Medical Center in Kentucky

2023
21-03309-23
Inspection / Evaluation
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Department of Veterans Affairs

This Office of Inspector General Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program report describes the results of a focused evaluation of the inpatient and outpatient settings of the Louisville VA Medical Center and associated outpatient clinics in Indiana and Kentucky. This evaluation focused on five...

Insights on Telehealth Use and Program Integrity Risks Across Selected Health Care Programs During the Pandemic

2023
21-03579-27
Review
Department of Veterans Affairs OIG
Department of Veterans Affairs
Pandemic

The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee’s (PRAC) Health Care Subgroup developed this report to share insights about the expansion—and the emerging risks—of telehealth in selected programs across six federal agencies during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The selected programs, which...

Insights on Telehealth Use and Program Integrity Risks Across Selected Health Care Programs During the Pandemic

2023
PRAC-2023-01
Other
Pandemic Response Accountability Committee
Multiple Agencies
Pandemic

Recognizing how critical telehealth has been to the federal COVID-19 response, the PRAC Health Care Subgroup—which includes six Federal Offices of Inspectors General—worked together to provide insights on the use of telehealth and its associated program integrity risks.

Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Making Threatening Communications

Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Making Threatening Communications
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Making Threatening Communications BOSTON – A Florida man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Springfield to sending threatening communications to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Drummond Neil Smithson, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of use of interstate,,,

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