Open Recommendations

We recommend that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services provide MACs with a thorough explanation of the QASP results.

We recommend that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services update the audit program to incorporate revised change requests and TDLs so MACs can obtain a better understanding of CMS expectations and be evaluated on current requirements.

We recommend that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services offer MACs additional training and guidance, based on the results of their QASP, and include best practices used by MACs.

OIG recommends that the Office of Global Partnerships revise 2 Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) 970, Public-Private Partnerships, to include a standardized action memorandum template for public-private partnerships. This template should outline all required elements from 2 FAM 970, which was updated in March 2024, to ensure completeness and consistency. The template should also include instructions for users to provide an explanation if any required element does not apply.

OIG recommends that the Office of Global Partnerships revise 2 Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) 970, Public-Private Partnerships, to specify the conditions in which memoranda of understanding (MOU) are mandatory or optional for public-private partnerships. Given the critical role of MOUs in establishing clear partnership arrangements, responsibilities, and expectations, this revision should also clarify the specific information responsible officials must include in the action memorandum if an MOU is not prepared.

OIG recommends that the Office of Global Partnerships update and clarify the criteria for what constitutes a partnership requiring approval under 2 Foreign Affairs Manual 970, Public-Private Partnerships.

OIG recommends that the Office of Global Partnerships enhance existing training related to public-private partnerships (PPP) to include specific examples of Department of State (Department) partnerships that model the differing structures and governance that partnerships can have. At a minimum, the training should clearly explain that the requirements included in 2 Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) 970, Public-Private Partnerships, apply to all PPPs, including those for which a Department grantee is an intermediary or a grantee is acting on behalf of the Department in forming the partnership.

OIG recommends that the Office of Global Partnerships update 2 Foreign Affairs Manual 970, Public-Private Partnerships, to include specific requirements for the ongoing management, monitoring, and evaluation of public-private partnerships (PPP). The revision should clearly articulate that monitoring and assessing PPPs is required and outline minimum documentation expectations.

OIG recommends that the Office of Global Partnerships develop and implement a communication strategy to ensure that relevant bureau personnel are aware of the Foreign Service Institute training"PP440 " Public-Private Partnerships.

OIG recommends that the Office of Global Partnerships require Foreign Service Institute training"PP440 - Public-Private Partnerships"for all personnel involved with public-private partnerships and update 2 Foreign Affairs Manual 970, Public-Private Partnerships, to include the requirement.

OIG recommends that the Office of Global Partnerships develop and implement procedures for creating initial records for public-private partnerships (PPP) in the PPP database based on approved action memoranda. This procedure should outline specific steps and responsibilities to ensure the consistent entry of new records to the PPP database.

OIG recommends that the Office of Global Partnerships develop and implement guidance making all key fields in the Public-Private Partnerships database mandatory, including Indicators, Expected/Actual Results, and Lessons Learned, to help ensure that critical information is consistently captured.

OIG recommends that the Office of Global Partnerships (GP) develop and implement guidance requiring the inclusion of short-term public-private partnerships (PPP) in the PPP database. At a minimum, GP should revise reporting guidance and update the PPP database to support accurate classification and tracking of these partnerships.

Record correct death information on the Numident, terminate payments, and initiate collection of the overpayments or release the underpayments for the deceased beneficiaries in our populations.

Add death information to the Numident for the identified deceased non-beneficiaries.

Make improvements to the Death Information Processing System, such as adding a Numident match to assess Online Verification System discrepancies and resolving minor Social Security number discrepancies before rejecting a state death report.

Establish a process to periodically remind employees to complete Manager to Manager (M2M) requests within the initial 5-business days and provide interim replies if the requests cannot be completed in 5-business days.

Update policy to require that employees document interim communications and retain that documentation in a single location.

Update the M2M application to generate notifications when there is activity on requests, such as updates or resolution, and when requests are nearing the initial 5-business day timeframe or are overdue based on prescribed timelines.

Implement controls to ensure that PC employees complete all necessary actions before M2M requests are placed in “resolved” status.

Until recommendation 4 is implemented, remind PC employees of the requirement to complete all necessary actions to resolve the M2M request before clearing the Paperless records associated with M2M requests.

Engage with managers and employees who process M2M request to identify best practices or ways to further improve the M2M application.

Collaborate with ONDCP to determine the necessary adjustments to the CoC reporting methodology that ensures HUD reports annual numeric targets and actuals to ONDCP by the required November 1 due date.

Collaborate with ONDCP to determine the necessary adjustments to the RHP reporting methodology that ensures HUD reports numeric targets to ONDCP by the required November 1 due date.

Develop and execute a written agreement with ONDCP on the reporting methodology for the CoC annual numeric targets and actuals that would meet future reporting requirements and comply with the Strategy and timeframe for implementation.