Federal Reports

In fiscal year (FY) 2019, we audited nine local Postal Service units in eight different districts that addressed issues related to local purchases and payments. One of the issues we tested was exceeding the $1,000 invoice limit by using multiple no-fee money orders for local purchases and payments. These reports resulted in 11 recommendations to district management to reiterate policies and procedures, train applicable employees, and provide tax reportable documentation to vendors receiving payments. Our objective this time was to evaluate whether corrective actions taken by the Postal Service, in response to those reports, sufficiently addressed the issue of exceeding the $1,000 invoice limit by using multiple no-fee money orders for local purchases and payments.

Our objective was to determine whether the Social Security Administration (SSA) appropriately assigned Social Security numbers (SSN) to noncitizens with a valid nonwork reason.

From July 1, 2016, through December 31, 2018 (audit period), Medicare paid approximately $4 billion for orthotic braces provided to Medicare beneficiaries. Prior OIG audits and evaluations found that some suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) billed for orthotic braces that did not comply with Medicare requirements. During our audit period, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services found that orthotic braces were among the top 20 DMEPOS items with the highest improper payment rates. After analyzing Medicare claim data, we selected for audit Desoto Home Health Care, Inc. (Desoto), an orthotic braces supplier in Wauchula, Florida.