OIG Issues Top Management Challenges for 2013.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a list of the biggest management and performance challenges facing the HHS for 2013.  The challenges listed include continuing vulnerabilities, as well as new and emerging issues identified by the OIG, as follows:

1. Overseeing the health insurance marketplaces;
2. Transitioning to value-based payments for health care;
3. Ensuring appropriate use of prescription drugs in Medicare and Medicaid;
4. Protecting the integrity of an expanding Medicaid program;
5. Fighting fraud and waste in Medicare Parts A and B;
6. Preventing improper payments and fraud in Medicare Advantage;
7. Ensuring quality of care in nursing facilities and home and community-based settings;
8. Effectively using data and technology to protect program integrity;
9. Protecting HHS grants and contract funds from fraud, waste, and abuse;
10. Ensuring the safety of food, drugs and medical devices.

The OIG’s assessment of HHS’ top management challenges is available as an appendix to the HHS annual agency financial report at:

http://www.hhs.gov/afr/2013-hhs-agency-financial-report.pdf.

Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.  “FY 2013 Top Management and Performance Challenges Identified by Office of Inspector General (OIG).”  FY 2013 Agency Financial Report. 17 Dec. 2013.

About the Author

Jennifer Kirchner is a licensed attorney in Illinois and Wisconsin. Ms. Kirchner has expertise in assessing provider compliance with the Anti-Kickback Statute, Stark Law, the False Claims Act, HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules and clinical research laws and regulations.