In December 2021, OIG issued its Semiannual Report to Congress (SAR) covering OIG’s activities for the reporting period of April 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021, as well as the entire Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 (October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021). The SAR projects that for FY 2021 approximately $787 million is expected be returned based on OIG audit findings and $3 billion is expected to be collected based on OIG investigative initiatives. In addition, the SAR summarizes OIG’s key reports and significant activities.

In FY 2021, OIG issued 162 audit reports, representing a slight decrease from the 178 reports issued in FY 2020. OIG’s work in FY 2021 included 532 criminal actions, 689 civil actions and 1,689 exclusions, all of which are minor decreases from the FY 2020 statistics, as reported in the April 1, 2020-September 30, 2020 SAR.

The SAR summarizes OIG’s work responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, which includes coordination with key oversight and law enforcement partners. OIG also highlighted its reports regarding COVID-19, including the impact on nursing home beneficiaries as well as pandemic-related schemes to fraudulently bill Medicare. The SAR highlights other key areas of OIG focus in FY 2021 such as children’s health, opioid misuse, nursing home quality of care, cybersecurity threats, Medicare and Medicaid program integrity, and oversight of NIH grant programs and operations.

The SAR underscores that OIG’s audit and enforcement focus remains strong. Although the COVID-19 pandemic introduced new risks and enforcement areas, OIG has also continued to focus its efforts on key non-pandemic related areas as well.

The April 1, 2021 - September 30, 2021 SAR is available here, and OIG’s press release is available here.