An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Brought to you by the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency
Federal Reports
Report Date
Agency Reviewed / Investigated
Report Title
Type
Location
Federal Communications Commission
OIG Letter to Public Utility Commissions Regarding Complaints and Other Information Related to the Lifeline Program
On August 10, 2020, OIG sent letters to the leadership of state and territorial public utility commissions seeking to strengthen its ongoing relationships with these important partners. Frequently the first to receive complaints and concerns regarding the Lifeline program (and other FCC-administered programs) from beneficiaries and the public, OIG encourages public utility commissions to continue sharing information critical to fulfilling our mandate to detect and combat fraud, waste and abuse in FCC programs.
Under the Medicare home health prospective payment system (PPS), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services pays home health agencies (HHAs) a standardized payment for each 60-day episode of care that a beneficiary receives. The PPS payment covers intermittent skilled nursing and home health aide visits, therapy (physical, occupational, and speech-language pathology), medical social services, and medical supplies.
From January 1, 2016, through May 31, 2018 (audit period), Medicare paid $1.5 billion for knee, back, and ankle-foot braces (selected 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 billing 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 claims data, we selected for audit Visionquest Industries, Inc. (Visionquest), an orthotic braces supplier in Irvine, California.
MEMORANDUM FOR JOSEPH PISHIONERI, CONTRACTING OFFICER, BUREAU OF ENGRAVING AND PRINTINGThis Memorandum is Sensitive But Unclassified. To obtain further information, please contact the OIG Office of Counsel at OIGCounsel@oig.treas.gov, (202) 927-0650, or by mail at Office of Treasury Inspector General, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC 20220.
