Federal Reports

The audit objectives were to determine whether program funds were managed in accordance with the ARC and Federal grant requirements.

For our audit of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s (the Department’s) Enterprise Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (ECDM) program, our objective was to assess the effectiveness of the program. To address this objective, we assessed data quality, data security, and aspects of program management in a recent ECDM tool procurement decision. We found that I. ECDM data quality does not fully support Department oversight and reporting needs; II. The National Institute of Standards and Technology does not consistently control and thoroughly test the ECDM program’s information system changes; III. The ECDM program’s information system is relatively secure but has some internal security weaknesses; IV. Deficiencies in ECDM program management place future enterprise cybersecurity tool deployments at risk; and V. The Department does not fully incorporate bureau-incurred costs in its ECDM project cost tracking.

The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a healthcare inspection to determine the validity of an allegation that select therapists do not maintain optimal utilization of individual mental health clinics and clinic administrative processes related to the Choose My Therapy (CMT) program, creating barriers to patients receiving care, timely care, or follow-up care at the Hinesville VA Clinic (Clinic).

The OIG substantiated that therapists’ clinic utilization rates were not optimal. Analysis of clinic utilization data revealed that Clinic therapists who provided individual psychotherapy generally had clinic utilization rates ranging from 32–68 percent, which was below the lowest target of 80 percent recommended by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The Clinic mental health section chief (section chief) acknowledged awareness of low utilization rates since 2022 but cited competing priorities as barriers to change.

The OIG analyzed data of 285 unique patients who received a diagnostic evaluation and found that patients experienced delayed access to mental health care. Specifically, a median wait time of at least three weeks between three subsequent individual psychotherapy sessions. Delayed initiation of mental health treatment may put patients at risk for negative outcomes, and VHA expects sessions to occur weekly. Further analysis of the data showed a progressive loss of patients engaged in treatment.

The OIG learned that Clinic mental health staff utilized a prohibited waitlist. The section chief confirmed the waitlist was discontinued in April 2023 and reported that patients’ care requests have since been tracked through clinical consults in electronic health records.

The OIG made six recommendations to the Facility Director related to optimizing clinic utilization, accurate use of current procedural terminology codes, consult management and patient scheduling processes, review of patients who experienced individual therapy delays and were on the discontinued waitlist, and evaluation of CMT programs operating in other facility locations.

Objective: To determine whether the Social Security Administration issued payments to beneficiaries who were deceased according to New York City’s vital statistics records.

This Annual Plan presents the major initiatives and priorities the OIG intends to undertake in FYS 2025-2026 to assist the U.S. Department of Education (Department) in fulfilling its responsibilities to America’s taxpayers and students. The plan details the assignment areas and resources that the OIG plans to devote to evaluating the efficiency, effectiveness, and integrity of Department programs and operations. The plan incorporates suggestions from Department leaders and staff, Congress, and the Office of Management and Budget.