Federal Reports

OIG reviewed the proposed Modernization of Swine Slaughter Inspection rule to determine whether FSIS’ worker safety analysis complied with applicable rulemaking requirements.

Five individuals who worked for Empire Care Dental at various California locations, including one dentist, one dental hygienist, and three office managers pleaded guilty to Health Insurance Fraud and to Practicing Dentistry Without a License. Our investigation disclosed that representatives of Empire Care Dental offered $50 - $100 payments to Amtrak employees if they used their services. In addition, our investigation found that Empire Care Dental submitted false claims for procedures more expensive than the ones performed and that the dentist practiced dentistry without a license. The five individuals were sentenced to 2-3 months in prison and ordered to pay joint restitution in the amount of $62,836.

We evaluated the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) practices for identifying and protecting personally identifiable information (PII). The evaluation assessed HUD’s current capabilities to properly manage and protect PII and to properly maintain paper and electronic PII records. This evaluation was conducted in conjunction with the fiscal year (FY) 2019 Federal Information Security Act of 2014 (FISMA) evaluation 2019-OE-0002.We determined that HUD had taken positive steps to improve its records management practices. It had initiated modernization efforts to transition paper-based processes to electronic processes, begun addressing and closing OIG privacy-related recommendations that had been open for several years, and developed a formal communications plan to increase program awareness. The records officer had increased and improved training for records specialists in program offices and was directing an extensive records inventory project. However, HUD had not designated a Senior Agency Official for Records Management (SAORM) at the Assistant Secretary level as required by OMB, and was not meeting certain Federal requirements. HUD was not able to identify and inventory all PII, or search for or track PII. Recordkeeping practices and retention schedules were outdated, and HUD had not fully integrated the records program with risk management and information technology programs.We provide nine new recommendations designed to address HUD’s most significant legal and regulatory obligations, along with other critical challenges laid out in this report.

The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigated allegations that the VA San Diego Healthcare System staff manipulated the time cards for seven fee-basis medical providers in order to pay these individuals on a salary or wage basis rather than a per-procedure basis. In addition, the allegations contended that a fee-basis care provider was told he would be converted to a full-time employee after working full time as a fee-basis provider for one year. The OIG substantiated that certain fee-basis care providers at the VA San Diego Healthcare System were being paid for their time improperly, rather than on a per-procedure basis as required. The OIG did not substantiate that a fee-basis professional had been promised conversion to full-time status. The OIG did not make any recommendations because the medical center took corrective action, including disciplinary action with respect to the supervisor who was accountable for this conduct.