Misuse of Funds, Improper Disposal of Equipment, and Destruction of Records

The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) received wide-ranging allegations of misconduct in the operations of the Veterans Health Administration’s Consolidated Patient Account Center (CPAC) field offices, which function within the Office of Community Care and conduct medical billing functions for VA medical centers in designated regions. The OIG substantiated the following allegations: 1. CPAC management improperly used government funds to purchase food for CPAC employees in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 in connection with events held as part of VA’s Diversity and Inclusion initiative; 2. One CPAC violated VA policy for disposing of excess equipment when computer monitors were given to a local school without following established procedures; and 3. Some CPAC field offices violated VA policy requiring that destruction of temporary paper records be performed pursuant to a written contract. The OIG made two recommendations, with which VA concurred and took prompt corrective action. The OIG considers these recommendations closed. Allegations relating to improper travel, the misuse of funds for the purchase of daily planners and a wheelchair, and the improper use of purchase cards for armored car services were not substantiated.