Federal Reports

TVA's Nuclear Quality Assurance (QA) provides monitoring and assessment of plant activities to ensure they are conducted in a quality manner. Periodically, reviews are performed (internal and external) of QA that identify improvement opportunities. Due to the importance of QA's role in monitoring and assessing nuclear plant activities, we initiated an evaluation to determine if QA has taken actions to address issues identified during the internal and external reviews. We determined QA generally took actions to address issues identified during reviews of QA. However, we determined better documentation was needed when actions are not deemed necessary.

Statutorily mandated rebates, which include both basic rebates and inflation-indexed rebates (additional rebates owed when drug prices rise faster than inflation), amount to a substantial percentage of spending on Medicaid prescription drugs. Medicare does not have the authority to collect rebates for Part B drugs and biologicals (i.e., "Part B drugs"). In an earlier report, OIG found that a rebate program for Part B drugs could have resulted in at least $2.7 billion in rebates (both basic rebate and inflation-indexed rebate segments) in 2011. OIG conducted this current review after receiving a congressional request asking us to update our earlier rebate calculations using only the inflation-indexed portion of the Medicaid rebate methodology.

A joint investigation with the Lordsburg New Mexico Police Department found that Ms. Mary Cristina Ortiz, Executive Director,The Wellness Coalition, Lordsburg, NM, defrauded the U.S. Government when she allowed two AmeriCorps members (Ms. Ortiz’children) to submit timesheets that falsely claim they performed AmeriCorps service in Lordsburg, NM, while they attendedcollege in another state. Ms. Ortiz actions resulted in the loss of $16,500 in Federal funds.