Federal Reports

In 2017, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) made considerable progress developing and implementing a biometric capability to track air passenger exits using facial recognition technology. CBP’s Biometric Entry-Exit Program conducted a pilot at nine airports and demonstrated ability using this technology to match 98 percent of passengers’ identities at departure gates. However, During the pilot, CBP encountered various technical and operational challenges that limited biometric confirmation to only 85 percent of all passengers processed. These challenges included poor network availability, a lack of dedicated staff, and compressed boarding times due to flight delays. Further, due to missing or poor quality digital images, CBP could not consistently match individuals of certain age groups or nationalities.

The OIG used data analytics to identify offices with potentially fraudulent Voyager card activity. The analytics identified Centerville Branch had 22 transactions totaling $2,395 at risk during May 2018. The unit had 691 Voyager card transactions totaling $19,090 for all of May 2018. The objective of this audit was to determine whether Voyager card transactions were properly reconciled for detecting and disputing potentially fraudulent activity at the Centerville Branch, Snellville, GA.

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Nevada implemented some of the new criminal background check requirements established under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act. However, certain criminal background check requirements for childcare providers remained unimplemented as of March 1, 2018, and significant challenges may delay full implementation until 2019 or 2020. According to Nevada officials, these challenges include decentralization of the background check processes. (Background checks are conducted by different entities, depending on the provider type.)

Some chiropractic services that Etheredge billed were not allowable in accordance with Medicare requirements. Of the 100 chiropractic services in our sample, 67 were allowable in accordance with Medicare requirements. However, the remaining 33 were not allowable: 31 services were medically unnecessary and 2 were not documented. As a result, Etheredge received $1,042 in unallowable payments. On the basis of our sample results, we estimated that Etheredge received unallowable Medicare payments of at least $169,737 for 2014 and 2015. As of the publication of this report, this unallowable amount includes claims outside of the 4-year claims reopening period.