IHS Needs To Improve Oversight of Its Hospitals' Opioid Prescribing and Dispensing Practices and Consider Centralizing Its Information Technology Functions

Prescription opioids continue to contribute to the opioid overdose epidemic. A prior OIG audit identified high volumes of opioid purchases in IHS communities. In addition, the prior OIG audit of two IHS hospitals determined that IHS did not have adequate information technology (IT) security controls to protect health information and patient safety. The audit also found significant differences in the way the two hospitals carried out their respective IT operations.