The HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) expects its investigative recoveries during the first half of fiscal year (FY) 2017 to top $2.04 billion – which is down from $2.77 billion for the first half of FY 2016. During this period, the OIG reports 468 criminal actions against individuals or entities that engaged in crimes against HHS programs, along with 461 civil actions and 1,422 exclusions from participation in federal health care programs. Enforcement priorities during the first half of FY 2017 included prescription drug diversion, fraud in non-institutional settings, and grant fraud. The report also highlights major OIG audits of HHS programs, including reports covering quality of care, Medicare Part D spending, the hospital two midnight rule policy, and other Medicare and Medicaid payment policies.
