Federal Reports

: In July 2017, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reported that it awarded 252 projects under the Public Assistance alternative procedures pilot program valued at $11.9 billion, with just 26 of those projects (10.32 percent) closed. During our fieldwork, we gained access to FEMA’s grant management system of record and reviewed supporting documentation for the project worksheets in our scope to determine if FEMA followed its criteria when validating cost estimates. However, FEMA did not sufficiently document actions that it took to validate subrecipient cost estimates to ensure costs are reasonable. Of the three obligated projects we reviewed during our fieldwork, we did not find evidence that FEMA completed the required steps identified to validate the reasonableness of subrecipient cost estimates.

The OIG’s data analytics identified that Bluebonnet Station had a 202 percent increase in dollars for stamp and meter revenue refunds from July 1 to December 31, 2017, compared to the same period in fiscal year 2016. Of the $36,000 in stamp and meter revenue refunds during the period, the unit recorded over $27,000 in refunds related to spoiled/unused customer meter strips. We reviewed 83 stamp and meter revenue refunds issued from July 1 to December 31, 2017.

Nutritional Marasmus and other/unspecified severe protein-calorie malnutrition are two types of severe malnutrition listed in the International Classification of Diseases, Clinical Modification. Previous OIG reviews have determined that hospitals incorrectly billed for Kwashiorkor, a third type of severe malnutrition. Nutritional Marasmus and other/unspecified severe protein-calorie malnutrition are each classified as a type of major complication or comorbidity (MCC). Adding MCCs to a Medicare claim can result in a higher Medicare payment.

This semiannual report informs Congress of the Peace Corps Office of Inspector General's work for October 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018.