Download the OIG Work Plan 2014
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) just released their annual work plan on January 31. Coming a full four months later than in years past, the “OIG Work Plan 2014” arrives after we’re already a month into the new year. It also arrives a bit lighter at 101 pages cover-to-cover, about a third less reading material than last year’s edition.
However, though this years OIG Work Plan is shorter, it still packs the same punch as in prior years, and in some cases more so. The OIG Work Plan 2014 contains 209 projects in its seven main sections. 61 of which are new projects as of this year. Take a peek at this OIG Work Plan 2014 overview if you want to see a quick summary of what’s covered in this year’s plan. And, as has been mentioned here in the past, the OIG, while created to protect the integrity of HHS programs and operations via detecting and preventing fraud, waste and abuse, has become a an operation that pays for itself … and then some. So it’s never short on getting the funding it requires to get its job done.
The OIG Work Plan 2014 is a collaborative effort, one that historically produces remarkable results
Each year, 2014 included, the OIG Work Plan is actually the result of a joint effort that includes the Office of Audit Services (OAS), the Office of Evaluation and Inspections (OEI), the Office of Investigations (OI), and the Office of Counsel to the Inspector General (OCIG). Together, this formidable work team has had quite an impact over the last year or so, as is evidenced by uncovering the following …
- Nearly $850 million in audit receivables
- $5 billion in investigative receivables
- $19.4 billion in savings in 2013 based on prior actions and recommendations
In addition to the above stated financial gains made through the OIG’s program, last year produced a series of enforcement actions that went beyond mere monetary impact. The list below highlights other actions taken against a few thousand individuals and entities …
- 3,214 individuals and entities were excluded from participation in Federal healthcare programs
- 960 individuals and entities had criminal charges brought against them for crimes against HHS programs
- 472 civil actions based on false claims and unjust-enrichment lawsuits among other things.
Your current healthcare compliance plan and the OIG Work Plan 2014 … how do they compare?
Every provider who participates in healthcare programs that are, to any degree, federally funded only needs to look at these past outcomes in order to understand the reality of government enforcement. And the OIG Work Plan itself becomes the ideal tool for an organization to turn to and cross reference with their own mandated compliance plan. You can start by downloading your own copy of the OIG Work Plan 2014. It’s actually easy reading, and is laid out in a format that allows one to quickly review those projects that are going to be of concern their specific entity.
That said, over the coming days we’ll cover some of the more significant, new projects and interesting items that are outlined in the OIG Work Plan 2014. Specifically, we’ll delve into those areas that address …
- Hospitals
- Nursing Homes
- Physician Providers
- The Affordable Care Act and Recovery Act Reviews
More on the OIG Work Plan 2014 to come. Stay tuned …