The OIG has issued its Semiannual Report to Congress for the period of April 1 – September 30, 2014, in which it highlights significant investigation, audit, and enforcement activities and achievements across HHS programs during the six-month period and for all of FY 2014. The OIG reports expected recoveries exceeding $4.9 billion during FY 2014, consisting of almost $834.7 million in audit receivables and about $4.1 billion in investigative receivables (including about $1.1 billion in non-HHS investigative receivables, such as states’ shares of Medicaid restitution). In FY 2014, the OIG also reported: exclusions of 4,017 individuals and entities from participation in federal health care programs; 971 criminal actions against individuals or entities; and 533 civil actions (including false claims and unjust-enrichment lawsuits filed in federal district court, CMP settlements, and administrative recoveries related to provider self-disclosure matters). In addition to discussing legal and investigative activities, the report recaps various reports issued by the OIG over the 6–month period. It also responds to public suggestions for new anti-kickback safe harbors related to hospital continuing medical education programs, clinical trial participant compensation, and contracts between clinically integrated networks (CINs) and commercial third party payors for value-based payments.
This article is presented for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice.
