Federal Reports

On May 11, 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General,Administrative Investigations Directorate initiated an investigation into potentially improperexpenditures made by Dr. Katherine A. Lemos. The purpose of theinvestigation was to determine whether Dr. Lemos (1) improperly used Board funds for travelfrom her residence in San Diego to her official duty station in Washington, D.C.; (2) exceededthe statutory cap on expenses for her office refurbishment; and (3) hired two senior aides on anoncompetitive basis.

The Washington NDC is a highly mechanized U.S. Postal Service mail processing plant that distributes standard mail and packages in piece and bulk form. To carry out its mission, the Washington NDC owns the following types of assets:Capital assets have a unit cost of $10,000 or more, are acquired through purchase, transfer, or donation, and depreciate. In calendar year 2014, the threshold for capital assets was increased from $3,000 to $10,000.Expendable assets cost less than $10,000 and include items such as repair parts, replacement components, mail transport equipment, and workroom furniture. Sensitive assets are a subcategory of expendable assets and consist of assets vulnerable to theft or loss, and include items such as computers, laptops, cell phones, digital cameras, and other valuable portable equipment. Assets can be stored onsite in internal stockrooms or outside in storage facilities. Washington NDC management utilizes a 6,375 square feet external portable structure – built in 1995 – to store equipment and repair parts that exceed the storage capacity of its internal stockroom.

This Office of Inspector General Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program report describes the results of a focused evaluation of the inpatient and outpatient care provided at the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System, which includes the North Las Vegas VA Medical Center and multiple outpatient clinics in Nevada. This evaluation focused on five key operational areas:• Leadership and organizational risks• Quality, safety, and value• Medical staff privileging• Environment of care• Mental health (focusing on emergency department and urgent care center suicide prevention initiatives)The OIG issued three recommendations for improvement in three areas:1. Leadership and organizational risks• Institutional disclosures2. Medical staff privileging• Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluations3. Environment of care• Electrical receptacles and switches in compliance with applicable requirements

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General, Administrative Investigations Directorate initiated an investigation into potentially improper expenditures made by Dr. Katherine A. Lemos.