Federal Reports

On January 1, 2018, an Amtrak executive retired following the release of our investigative report, which concluded that he violated company policy by accepting gifts from the owner of a company doing business with Amtrak as both a customer and vendor.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (State agency) did not always calculate supplemental payments made to the Texas Tech University (TTU) health institutions in accordance with Federal and State requirements. Specifically, the supplemental payment calculations included overstated Medicare equivalent fees for claims that included payment modifiers and diagnostic test modifiers, Medicaid services that were performed by ineligible providers, and Medicaid services that did not have Medicare equivalent fees. As a result, the TTU health institutions received $9.9 million (Federal share) in unallowable supplemental payments for the period May 1, 2004, through September 30, 2007.

The OIG Field Financial Risk Model identified that the Hartford Main Office, for quarter (Q) 3 fiscal year (FY) 2017, made 92 percent of all local purchases within the Connecticut Valley District. This unit had a 367 percent increase in local purchases recorded to miscellaneous supplies, materials, and services during Q3 compared to Q2 of FY 2017. The audit team reviewed all 110 miscellaneous supplies, materials, and services transactions identified between April 1 and June 30, 2017. The objective of this audit was to determine whether internal controls were in place and effective for making local purchases and payments at the Hartford, CT, Main Office.

Our audit objectives were to determine whether the U.S. Postal Service 1) fairly stated selected accounting transactions in the general ledger and whether selected key controls surrounding those transactions were operating effectively, and 2) properly tested, documented, and reported its examination of selected key controls related to Headquarters and Accounting Services. The U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors contracted with an independent public accounting (IPA) firm to express opinions on the Postal Service’s financial statements and internal controls over financial reporting. The IPA firm maintains overall responsibility for testing and reviewing significant Postal Service accounts, processes, and internal controls. The OIG coordinates audit work with the IPA firm to ensure adequate coverage.