Federal Reports

In February and March 2017, we evaluated the Philadelphia, PA, VA Regional Office (VARO) to determine how well Veterans Service Center (VSC) staff processed veterans’ disability claims, how timely and accurately they processed proposed rating reductions, how accurately they entered claims-related information, and how well they responded to special controlled correspondence. VSC staff did not consistently process some of the disability claims we reviewed. OIG reviewed 30 veterans’ traumatic brain injury claims and found Rating Veterans Service Representatives (RVSRs) accurately processed 27. This represented a significant improvement from our 2013 inspection. RVSRs did not always process entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) and ancillary benefits consistent with Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) policy. OIG reviewed 30 claims involving entitlement to SMC and related ancillary benefits and found RVSRs incorrectly processed 13, resulting in 189 improper monthly payments to 10 veterans totaling approximately $123,000. This occurred because of an ineffective second signature review process. VSC staff generally processed proposed rating reductions accurately. OIG reviewed 30 rating reduction cases and found staff delayed or incorrectly processed 10 because management placed higher priority on other workload. OIG reviewed 30 newly established claims and found staff did not correctly input claim and claimant information into the electronic systems at the time of claims establishment in 15 because of lack of training and staff rushing to establish claims. VSC staff processed special controlled correspondence timely but needed to improve accuracy. OIG reviewed 30 special controlled correspondences and found staff incorrectly processed 13 because of lack of training and inadequate oversight by management. OIG recommended the VARO Director develop and implement a plan to assess the accuracy of secondary reviews involving higher level SMC, ensure oversight of rating reductions, monitor the effectiveness of claims establishment training, and develop a plan to monitor the effectiveness of training and reviews of special controlled correspondence. The VARO Director concurred with our recommendations and planned actions are responsive.

CNCS-OIG investigators found no evidence to support an allegation that AmeriCorps members with the Volunteers in Service to America, Student Veterans of America, Washington, DC, a service site of the American Legion Auxiliary, Indianapolis, IN., engaged in prohibited activities to influence proposed legislation.

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EAC OIG, through the independent public accounting firm of McBride, Lock & Associates, LLC, audited $30.6 million in funds received by the Mississippi Secretary of State under the Help America Vote Act. The objectives of the audit were to determine whether the Office: 1) used payments authorized by Sections 101, 102, and 251 of the Grant in accordance with Grant and applicable requirements; 2) accurately and properly accounted for property purchased with Grant payments and for program income; 3) met HAVA requirements for Section 251 funds for creation of an election fund, providing required matching contributions, and meeting the requirements for maintenance of a base level of state outlays, commonly referred to as Maintenance of Expenditures (MOE).

This memorandum alerts the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to the preliminary results of our ongoing review of potential abuse or neglect of Medicare beneficiaries in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). This audit is part of the ongoing efforts of the Office of Inspector General (OIG) to detect and combat elder abuse. We are communicating these preliminary results because of the importance of detecting and combating elder abuse. Also, according to Government Auditing Standards, "early communication to those charged with governance or management may be important because of their relative significance and the urgency for corrective follow-up action."