Federal Reports

This informational report details control activities implemented to strengthen enforcement of the USDA organic regulations and explains how the Agricultural Marketing Service intends to measure the effectiveness of the new organic regulations.

The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a focused review of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) guidelines for lung cancer screening (LCS) and the requirements for a VA facility LCS program. VHA has 10 mandatory elements that must be in place for a facility to establish an LCS program.Lung cancer is the third most diagnosed type of cancer in the United States and is the leading cause of cancer deaths. Lung cancer generally has a poor prognosis, but diagnosis at an early stage improves patients’ survival. The US Preventive Services Task Force first recommended LCS in 2013 and updated the recommendation in 2021. Despite the impact LCS has on improving patients’ survival, LCS rates in the United States remain low.The OIG surveyed facility staff involved in LCS. Facility staff reported that VHA LCS guideline requirements presented barriers to broader adoption of LCS and did not ensure consistent implementation. The most frequently cited barriers by facilities without an LCS program were the absence of an LCS coordinator, the lack of adequate staffing, the absence of a patient registry, and the lack of a multidisciplinary board. The OIG determined just over half of surveyed VHA facilities reported having an established LCS program consistent with VHA guidelines for LCS.In addition, the OIG found that regardless of whether facilities had established a compliant LCS program, variability remained in how facilities identify patients who met LCS criteria. Additionally, methods for interpreting low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans varied among facilities. Ten sites completing low-dose CT scans for lung cancer reported not using an established system for classification of the results.The OIG made three recommendations to the Under Secretary for Health. Recommendations addressed the operational memorandum for LCS implementation and the lack of a requirement to offer eligible patients LCS.

This Office of Inspector General (OIG) Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program report describes the results of a focused evaluation of the inpatient and outpatient care provided at the Lebanon VA Medical Center and associated outpatient clinics in Pennsylvania. This evaluation focused on five key operational areas:• Leadership and organizational risks• Quality, safety, and value• Medical staff privileging• Environment of care• Mental health (focusing on emergency department and urgent care center suicide prevention initiatives)The OIG issued one recommendation in the Leadership and Organizational Risks area of review regarding conducting institutional disclosures for sentinel events.

We found that a USBR employee wrongfully obtained $28,524 in combined Unemployment Insurance and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.

The EPA Office of Water issued a policy memorandum in September 2021 that incorrectly advised states that they do not have to review single audits of nonfederal entities that borrow money from state revolving funds.

An Amtrak senior manager based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, signed a civil settlement agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida, on August 15, 2023, and agreed to pay $25,441 in restitution. Our investigation found that the employee submitted applications that contained false information to the Small Business Administration to qualify for a Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act Economic Injury Disaster Loan Advance.