Federal Reports

We reviewed $141.6 million in increased payments made to 120 selected providers to determine whether the State agency made increased Medicaid payments appropriately. We determined that the 120 selected providers were eligible as primary care providers under Federal requirements. Therefore, the State agency appropriately made the $141.6 million in increased payments for services rendered by the selected providers and received the $136.3 million in Federal funds. Accordingly, this report contains no recommendations.

Minnesota did not comply with Federal waiver and State requirements in overseeing centers that serve vulnerable adults who receive services through the program. To protect the health and safety of vulnerable adults, Minnesota, as the licensing agency for centers, must ensure that centers follow licensing requirements in State statutes established in its application for waiver services. These licensing requirements include health and safety and administrative requirements.

Nebraska did not always verify nursing homes’ correction of deficiencies identified during surveys in calendar year (CY) 2016 in accordance with Federal requirements. We estimated that Nebraska did not obtain or maintain the nursing homes’ evidence verifying correction of deficiencies for 866 (92 percent) of the 938 deficiencies identified during surveys in CY 2016.

Semiannual Report to Congress

This semiannual report summarizes the activities of the OIG for the period of 10/1/17 - 3/31/18.

The audits, inspections, and investigations we conducted during this reporting period will improve treatment and care of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees at detention facilities; make progress toward implementing controls to regulate access to the Department of Homeland Security facilities and systems; and improve oversight and controls for identifying and processing aliens who are known or suspected terrorists. In addition, our work will increase the effectiveness of acquisition oversight over United States Coast Guard information technology investments, and ensure Federal Emergency Management Agency funds are put to better use to improve management and oversight of disaster related programs.The Department and its components have worked with us to correct hundreds of issues and improve the economy and efficiency of programs and operations. Based on the Department's actions this period, we closed 130 recommendations issued in this and prior periods. Our work in this reporting period has resulted in improved overall effectiveness and a more secure homeland as well as improved management and oversight of programs and operations to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse.Moving forward, we will continue to concentrate on the areas of greatest risk to the Department and periodically review actions taken to address our prior findings. We look forward to reporting in the future on the Department's actions to address its many challenges.