Open Recommendations

Establish controls to ensure independent Government cost estimates are performed in accordance with Federal regulations.

Develop and implement policies and procedures to document and retain copies of all independent Government estimates for SIP projects in contract files.

Develop and implement a formal written process for capturing total costs and associated support for completed SIP projects to ensure accurate and timely reporting.

We recommend the Under Secretary for S&T clearly identify the appropriate entity with the authority and responsibility for updating critical infrastructure research and development strategic plans and annual homeland threat assessments and ensure that entity publishes each document in accordance with each of the prescribed timeframes.

We recommend the Under Secretary for S&T develop and implement improved controls to ensure all S&T offices adhere to program and project management principles per the Operating Model Blueprint, including, but not limited to, policies, procedures, and training. These controls should ensure that tailored project approaches are documented and approved, standardized project management language is used, project and program plans are appropriately integrated, and roles and responsibilities are clearly defined.

We recommend the Under Secretary for S&T develop and implement data validation controls to ensure accurate and consistent financial and project information in S&T’s centralized project tracking system, including, but not limited to, implementation policies, procedures, and training.

We recommend CBP’s Office of Field Operations develop and implement a formalized risk assessment process when developing, expanding, or modifying mobile applications.

We recommend CBP’s Office of Field Operations implement a mechanism to analyze CBP One™ advanced information for trends and patterns of fraudulent behaviors by users of CBP One™ and communicate its results to the eight ports of entry that process CBP One™ appointments.

We recommend CBP’s Office of Information Technology implement a mechanism to routinely assess CBP applications and supporting infrastructure operating systems for configuration and patch management vulnerabilities and timely implement corrective actions.

Implement procedures and controls to ensure that visual assessments for lead-based paint are completed at least every 12 months.

Implement procedures and controls to ensure that risk assessments and reevaluations are conducted in accordance with HUD's requirements.

Obtain lead-based paint risk assessments for the five developments for which hazard reduction work was completed and perform the required reevaluations.

Determine whether the remaining five developments (Imperial Courts, Mar Vista Gardens, Nickerson Gardens, Ramona Gardens, and Rancho San Pedro) have deteriorated paint and if so, obtain lead-based paint risk assessments and reevaluations when applicable.

Coordinate with HUD's Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes to obtain training for the Authority's employees responsible for managing lead-based paint on the management of lead-based paint, including the requirements for visual assessments, risk assessments, reevaluations, and hazard reduction.

We recommend that the Kansas Department of Health and Education improve its electronic visit verification system by developing and implementing procedures to verify that in-home PCS claims are recorded and verified in its EVV system, and implementing edits to verify that tasks recorded on in-home PCS claims match allowable tasks approved in the PCSP.

We recommend that the Kansas Department of Health and Education improve its use of the EVV system by verifying that exceptions are reviewed and remedied,  requiring that providers use the scheduling function within the EVV system or else directing the EVV contractor to remove the corresponding exception for instances when the scheduling function is not used, training providers on how to address and minimize the occurrence of informational exceptions, and establishing formal requirements governing service workers' use of the web portal.

We recommend that the Kansas Department of Health and Education verify that providers are complying with the State agency's established policies and procedures to maintain documentation showing that service workers are registered, screened, and employable pursuant to background check requirements.

We recommend that the Kansas Department of Health and Education verify that MCOs are complying with the State agency's established policies and procedures to complete and reassess functional needs assessments, including the needs evaluation tool, every 12 months, and upload these documents into the care management system for retention.

We recommend the Deputy Director and Senior Official Performing theDuties of the Director for ICE evaluate the use of manual processes for information sharing within ICE and with other stakeholders, such as the Department of Justice; identify funding; then develop and implement an automated system to document court appearances and maintain address information of unaccompanied migrant children.

We recommend the Deputy Director and Senior Official Performing theDuties of the Director for ICE develop and implement a formal process to identify unaccompanied migrant children who fail to appear for immigration hearings, and share this information internally within ICE and externally with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

We recommend that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services instruct the SSAs to follow up with the 24 nursing homes that may not have complied with Federal requirements to verify that they have taken corrective actions.

We recommend that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services instruct the SSAs to follow up with the 24 nursing homes that may not have complied with Federal requirements to verify that they have taken corrective actions.

We recommend that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services share the results of this audit with the SSAs and encourage them to focus their oversight on verifying that nursing homes designate an IP and that the IPs complete specialized training prior to filling that position.

The Division of Federal Home Loan Bank Regulation should issue written guidance on the FHLBanks’ collateral subordination practices.

The Division of Federal Home Loan Bank Regulation should complete the development and implementation of protocols for DBR personnel to follow in times of member distress and failure, including heightened oversight of the FHLBanks and coordination of communication and actions with the appropriate federal and state regulators.