Open Recommendations

GLS should determine how average costs are calculated within the inventory tracking system. If the average cost in the system for specific inventory items does not represent the average cost of inventory on hand, the average cost in the system should be periodically adjusted when the annual inventory is performed or at year-end.

Recommendation not publically available.

Recommendation not publically available.

Recommendation not publically available.

Recommendation not publically available.

We recommend that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services provide the results of the analyses to QIOs and Medicare Program Integrity contractors so that they can conduct targeted claim reviews to identify patterns of unreported incidents of potential abuse or neglect and the reasons the incidents were unreported.

We recommend that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services conduct data analyses to identify trends and high-risk areas in Medicare claims containing diagnosis codes indicating potential abuse or neglect.

We recommend that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services based on the results of the targeted claim reviews, develop and share guidance and best practices with providers to assist providers in reporting incidents in compliance with State mandatory reporting laws.

We recommend that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services consider the results of targeted claims reviews when assessing whether the existing requirements for reporting abuse or neglect of Medicare enrollees in provider CoPs should be strengthened.

Work with CMS to improve standardized emergency plan testing and training for nursing home management teams and staff.

Develop a plan in conjunction with CMS to address the foundational issues preventing more frequent surveys at nursing homes with a history of multiple high-risk deficiencies.

Implement verification standards to confirm completion of written training and training drills.

Develop additional infection control training resources for nursing home management teams and staff.

Work with CMS to develop standardized life safety training for nursing home management teams and staff.

Work with CMS to refine the current risk-based approach to identify nursing homes at which surveys should be conducted more frequently than once every 15 months, such as those with frequent management turnover.

Follow up with the 20 nursing homes reviewed as part of this audit to verify that corrective actions have been taken regarding the life safety, emergency preparedness, and infection control deficiencies identified in this report.

Provide annual written reminders to nursing homes with K-tag, F-tag, and E-tag requirements.

We recommend that the Center for Tobacco Products assess the PMTA review process and develop an action plan to resolve the backlog of PMTA applications and achieve compliance with the 180-day statutory deadline.

We recommend that the Center for Tobacco Products work with OPM to obtain direct-hire authority to assist CTP in reaching its FTE goal.

(U) Rec. 1.a: The DoD OIG recommended that the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security update DoD Directive 8521.01E to include standards for the encryption and protection of data on biometric collection devices.

(U) Rec. 1.b: The DoD OIG recommended that the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security update DoD Directive 8521.01E to require the sanitization of data from devices and hard drives before disposal.

(U) Rec. 1.c: The DoD OIG recommended that the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security update DoD Directive 8521.01E to require owning organizations to maintain records of the sanitization of all data on biometric devices when those devices are dispositioned for disposal.

The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs should develop and implement new end-use monitoring standard operating procedures, or update existing procedures, for use in non-permissive conditions. The bureau should consult with the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs and the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation and, as practicable, seek to adopt common approaches where there are common items provided or recipients.

The Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation should develop and implement new end-use monitoring standard operating procedures, or update existing procedures, for use in non-permissive conditions. The bureau should consult with the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs and the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and, as practicable, seek to adopt common approaches where there are common items provided or recipients.

The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs should plan and conduct an evaluation of alternative end-use monitoring procedure pilots in Ukraine.