Open Recommendations

We recommend that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services take the necessary steps, including seeking legislative authority, if necessary, to revise its regulations to ensure that Medicare pays the facility rate for physician services furnished while enrollees are Part A SNF or hospital inpatients irrespective of where the services are actually furnished or otherwise ensure that Medicare does not pay twice for any of the practice expenses incurred for physician services furnished while enrollees were Part A SNF or hospital inpatients, which could have resulted in the Medicare program paying up to $22,142,489 less and enrollees paying up to…

We recommend that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services consider developing a mechanism for SNFs and hospitals to indicate on the claim when a Part A inpatient leaves the facility and returns on the same day to help ensure that Medicare does not pay twice for any of the practice expenses incurred for physician services furnished while enrollees were Part A SNF or hospital inpatients.

We recommend that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services provide additional education to practitioners on the appropriate use of place-of-service codes while an enrollee is a Part A inpatient.

We recommend the Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations direct the Seattle Field Office, responsible for Northwest, to: Ensure responses to grievances occur within 5 days.

We recommend the Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations direct the Seattle Field Office, responsible for Northwest, to: Ensure responses to requests and grievances are in a language understood by the detainee.

We recommend the Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations direct the Seattle Field Office, responsible for Northwest, to: Update the facility’s food service policy to ensure the food service department’s pre-existing weekly mandatory inspections include checking that products are used before their “best-by” or expiration dates, in accordance with the shelf-life reference guide used by the facility.

We recommend the Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations direct the Seattle Field Office, responsible for Northwest, to: Review and update ICE’s contract with the facility by better identifying housing requirements and determining an appropriate guaranteed minimum.

We recommend the Executive Assistant Commissioner, Operations Support, U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Ensure that current guidance and operational procedures for managing detainees with confirmed or suspected contagious diseases are communicated to agents across the Border Patrol.

We recommend that CPB management require WAPS-FM to identify the corrective actions and controls it will implement to ensure future compliance with Act and CPB requirements for open financial records.

We recommend that CPB management require WAPS-FM to identify the corrective actions and controls it will implement to ensure future compliance, including the annual review requirements.

We recommend that CPB management require WAPS-FM to identify the corrective actions and controls it will implement to ensure future compliance with CPB requirements to make the names of its executive staff and school board members available to the public.

Ensure the facility has a plan to fill medical vacancies.

The District Director determines reasons for lack of evidence that clinical quality review deficiencies were resolved at the Center City, Huntington, Northeast, and Scranton Vet Centers; takes indicated actions to ensure completion; and monitors compliance.

The District Director verifies clinical staff follow confidentiality requirements when consulting and coordinating care with the support VA medical facility for shared clients at high risk for suicide, and monitors compliance across all zone vet centers.

The District Director determines reasons for lack of evidence that clinical quality review deficiencies were resolved at the Center City, Huntington, Northeast, and Scranton Vet Centers; takes indicated actions to ensure completion; and monitors compliance.

The District Director determines reasons clinical quality review remediation plans did not include documentation of deficiency resolution and the time frame for resolution for the Baltimore, Dundalk, Raleigh, and Richmond Vet Centers; takes indicated actions to ensure completion; and monitors compliance.

The District Director determines reasons for lack of evidence for clinical quality review deficiency resolution for the Baltimore, Dundalk, Raleigh, and Richmond Vet Centers; takes indicated actions to ensure completion; and monitors compliance.

The District Director ensures clinical staff consult and coordinate care with the support VA medical facility for shared clients flagged as high risk for suicide and monitors compliance across all zone vet centers.

The District Director verifies clinical staff follow confidentiality requirements when consulting and coordinating care with the support VA medical facility for shared clients at high risk for suicide and monitors compliance across all zone vet centers.

We recommend that the Maryland Department of Health remediate the seven control findings OIG identified.

We recommend that the Maryland Department of Health assess the effectiveness of all required NIST SP 800-53 controls according to the organization's defined frequency.

We recommend that the Maryland Department of Health assess at least annually and if necessary, adjust baseline configurations for its MMIS and E&E public servers.

We recommend that the Maryland Department of Health perform periodic phishing exercises and enhance employee and contractor cybersecurity awareness training based on the results of the phishing exercises, if needed.

Create a method to collect the identifying information of authorized individuals as part of the application for a CAF number. For authorized individuals who already have a CAF number assigned, create a method to collect identifying information during subsequent authorization requests.

We recommend that the Vermont Department of Health, Division of Substance Use Programs refund $282,643 to the Federal Government.