Federal Reports

In 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated its life safety and emergency preparedness regulations to improve protections for all Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, including residents of long-term-care facilities (commonly referred to as nursing homes). Updates included requirements that nursing homes have expanded sprinkler systems and smoke detector coverage; an emergency preparedness plan that is reviewed, trained on, tested, and updated at least annually; and provisions for sheltering in place and evacuation.

We determined that Texas’s system of internal control over displaced student count data did not ensure that the data provided to the Department were accurate and complete because it did not always prevent or detect inaccurate displaced student counts reported by LEAs. The displaced student count data for the three LEAs that we reviewed were inaccurate and incomplete. As a result, Texas reported inaccurate displaced student count data to the Department for school year 2017–2018, and its Emergency Impact Aid program grant allocations to these three LEAs were incorrect. We estimate that $10.55 million of the $23.1 million in Emergency Impact Aid program funds that the three LEAs received was not supported because of the inaccurate and incomplete displaced student count data. We also determined that Texas’s system of internal control over LEAs’ use of Emergency Impact Aid program funds did not ensure that (1) LEAs accounted for Emergency ImpactAid program funds received for students reported as children with disabilities in accordance with Federal requirements and (2) LEAs used Emergency Impact Aid program funds to pay salaries only for employees who supported schools with displaced students. We identified about $1.94 million in unsupported costs for students reported as children with disabilities at the three LEAs we reviewed and $750,088 in unsupported costs for employees who worked at schools for which no displaced students were reported at two of the three LEAs we reviewed.

The objective of our audit was to evaluate the accuracy of Surface Visibility scans and reporting for Highway Contract Route (HCR) and Postal Vehicle Service (PVS) trips. This audit was requested by the Postal Service’s Surface Logistics group. Surface transportation includes HCR, PVS, maritime, and rail service contracts. The Postal Service uses HCRs to transport mail and other products between plants and other designated stops for distances generally over 50 miles. PVS operations are internally operated by the Postal Service and trips are generally within a 50-mile radius of Postal Service facilities.

Our objective was to explore two options to address reducing unfunded retirement liabilities. First, we evaluated potential changes to life expectancy (mortality-improvement) assumptions used to calculate the RHB liability. Next, our investment consultant determined the potential impact of investing Postal Service retirement contributions (and employee contributions to CSRS and FERS) in six different sample portfolios of diversified assets, beginning in fiscal year 2020. Retirement assets held in Treasury as of the end of fiscal year 2019 would remain in Treasury, earning interest and funding pension payments and RHB premiums, until balances reach zero.

This evaluation assessed Peace Corps/Panama operations in the following areas: programming, training, site management, Volunteer health, Volunteer safety, administration, communication and collaboration, and staffing. The report made 14 recommendations, which, if implemented, should strengthen post operations and correct the deficiencies detailed in the report.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimated that, in 2017, 1.7 million people in the United States suffered from substance use disorders related to prescription opioid pain relievers.