OIG 2014 Work Plan

The Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 Work Plan on January 31, 2014. While the OIG usually releases its work plan in October of each year, in August of 2013, it notified the provider community that release of the 2014 Work Plan was to be delayed by several months.

The Work Plan provides a description of what the OIG will be focusing on in the coming year, giving providers insight into what the OIG believes are areas prone to fraud, waste and abuse. Throughout the year, the OIG will adjust its Work Plan by responding to emerging issues. The OIG submits a Semiannual Report to Congress describing findings and recommendations from recently completed reviews and details significant problems, abuses, deficiencies, and investigative outcomes relating to the administration of HHS programs and operations.

The Work Plan identifies a number of OIG initiatives that affect hospital, skilled nursing facilities, hospices, home health agencies, durable medical equipment suppliers, physicians, and prescription drugs, among others. Additional OIG initiatives will address the Affordable Care Act (ACA), electronic health records (EHR), and Medicaid. The 2014 Work Plan introduces “new” initiatives that represent a new focus for FY 2014 and revisits “continuing” initiatives that were previously addressed in the FY 2013 Work Plan.