Federal Reports

FSA had adequate processes for waiving R2T4 requirements, cancelling borrowers’ obligation to repay Direct Loans, and excluding Pell disbursements from Pell lifetime usage for impacted students. FSA also designed adequate processes for schools to report the number and amounts of R2T4 waivers applied.

The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted an inspection to review allegations that providers at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia, delayed care and failed to “provide services,” for a patient who died by suicide on the grounds of the Aiken Community Based Outpatient Clinic and the facility director “. . . covered it up.” The OIG also reviewed leaders’ responses to these allegations.The OIG substantiated the patient received deficient clinical care, which hindered referrals for mental health and pain management services. The deficiencies included (1) a primary care provider’s failure to follow up on positive mental health screenings, (2) a primary care provider’s failure to follow up on a discontinued mental health consult and order testing, (3) facility staff failures to ensure a timely pain management appointment, (4) pain management clinic providers’ failure to perform required mental health screenings, (5) a nurse’s failure to communicate a Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) referral prior to the Emergency Department encounter, and (6) suicide prevention staff failures to act after the VCL referral.The OIG did not substantiate that facility leaders “covered up” the patient’s death by suicide and could not determine the basis for this allegation due to the complainant being anonymous. Facility leaders immediately responded per Veterans Health Administration guidance; however, they failed to initiate a timely investigation of the death as a sentinel event.The OIG also identified completion of an inaccurate Behavioral Health Autopsy, failure to complete a Family Interview Tool Contact, delayed peer reviews, and a clinical review that did not identify and address deficiencies in care.The OIG made nine recommendations regarding mental health screenings, consult management, community care referral, suicide risk assessments, communication and closure of a VCL referral, completed suicides on VA campuses, and accurate completion of quality management reviews.

Peter Port, a resident of Palm Beach County, Florida, pleaded guilty on May 10, 2023, in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, to Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud. Port owned and controlled Safe Haven, a substance abuse center, which was purportedly in the business of providing clinical treatment for persons suffering from alcohol and drug addiction.Our investigation found that Port and others paid kickbacks and bribes in the form of cash, free or reduced sober homes rent, and other benefits to individuals who agreed to be patients at Safe Haven. Fraudulent claims were subsequently submitted to insurance plans for unnecessary urine testing and addiction treatment services that were not provided. As a result of the scheme, Amtrak’s insurance providers were fraudulently charged approximately $86,130. Port and three co-defendants will be sentenced at a future date.