In its Semiannual Report to Congress, which covers the first half of fiscal year (FY) 2013 (October – March), the OIG announced expected recoveries of $3.8 billion, consisting of more than $521 million in audit receivables and close to $3.28 billion in receivables from investigations. Those amounts are much higher than the expected recoveries of $1.2 billion announced in last year’s semiannual report.
In its report, the OIG also announced that for the first half of FY 2013, the agency reported exclusions of 1,661 individuals and entities from participation in federal healthcare programs, 484 criminal actions against individuals and entities stemming from crimes against HHS programs, and 240 civil actions, including false claims suits, civil monetary penalties, and administrative resolutions related to self-disclosure matters.
The report highlights, in the OIG’s words, “significant problems, abuses, deficiencies, and investigative outcomes” as well as “key accomplishments” related to HHS programs and operations during the reporting period. These highlights include:
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The Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team’s (HEAT) recovery of over $887 million and institution of 800 criminal actions since 2007;
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Various settlements and related criminal actions; and
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Summaries of Medicare contractors’ fraud detection activities.
The Semiannual Report is located here.
Reporter, Jennifer S. Lewin, Atlanta, +1 404 572 3569, jlewin@kslaw.com.
