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Reports

Department of Homeland Security OIG

FEMA's Emergency Non-Congregate Sheltering Interim Policy Provided Greater Flexibility for Emergency Sheltering During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Emergency Non-Congregate Sheltering (NCS) Interim Policy 104-009-18 (Interim Policy) provided an adequate and effective framework during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the Interim Policy waived the existing pre-approval requirement, allowing for faster and increased NCS implementation to segregate individuals and families and limit spread of the disease. The Interim Policy also included program details and requirements for determining eligible work and costs for NCS in response to federally declared disasters during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Department of Health & Human Services OIG

Medicare Generally Paid Acute-Care Hospitals for Inpatient Stays for Medicare Enrollees Diagnosed With COVID-19 in Accordance With Federal Requirements

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Department of Health & Human Services OIG

Kentucky Experienced Challenges in Meeting Federal and State Foster Care Program Requirements During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Department of Health & Human Services OIG

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Charged Some Unallowable Costs to Its CDC COVID-19 Award

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 10/26/2023

Department of Health & Human Services OIG

CDC's Internal Control Weaknesses Led to Its Initial COVID-19 Test Kit Failure, but CDC Ultimately Created a Working Test Kit

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 10/24/2023

Department of Health & Human Services OIG

The Strategic National Stockpile Was Not Positioned To Respond Effectively to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 10/16/2023

Department of Health & Human Services OIG

CDC Provided Oversight and Assistance; However, ELC Recipients Still Faced Challenges in Implementing COVID-19 Screening Testing Programs

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Department of Health & Human Services OIG

Home Health Agencies Rarely Furnished Services Via Telehealth Early in the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Department of Health & Human Services OIG

Four States Reviewed Received Increased Medicaid COVID-19 Funding Even Though They Terminated Some Enrollees' Coverage for Unallowable or Potentially Unallowable Reasons

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 9/22/2023

Department of Homeland Security OIG

Ineffective Controls Over COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Leave the Program Susceptible to Waste and Abuse

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) did not always implement effective internal controls to provide oversight of COVID-19 Funeral Assistance. FEMA’s funeral assistance program greatly expanded the universe of reimbursable expenses for deaths related to COVID-19, even beyond those specifically identified as ineligible under established FEMA policy, without establishing guardrails to ensure relief was limited to necessary expenses and serious needs as required by statute.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 8/24/2023

1 - Open

We recommend that the FEMA Administrator resolve questioned costs totaling an estimated $24,438,662 for expenses deemed ineligible by FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program and Policy Guide and determine the amount of any debts owed by recipients for erroneous payments.

2 - Closed

We recommend that the FEMA Administrator resolve other questioned costs included in our report and determine the amount of any debts owed by recipients for erroneous payments. Other questioned costs requiring resolution include: a) $1,348,546 for awards issued to multiple applicants for the same decedents; b) $554,653 for awards issued for applications that exceeded the $9,000 per decedent award limit; and c) $591,805 for 93 applications for which FEMA did not adequately review eligibility criteria of the applications.

3 - Open

We recommend that the FEMA Administrator ensure that future iterations of the Individual Assistance Program and Policy Guide and supporting procedures (a) provide consistent guidance on eligibility of funeral expenses for all future disaster declarations; and (b) allow for reimbursement of only necessary expenses and serious needs, consistent with the law.

4 - Closed

We recommend that the FEMA Administrator strengthen and monitor improvement of FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance training practices with particular focus on: a) distinguishing legitimate sources of potential duplication such as decedent’s name and social security number from potential duplications that arise due to FEMA using a repurposed Individual Assistance processing system, with a data field such as damaged dwelling address; b) preventing FEMA from reimbursing expenses exceeding the maximum $9,000 per decedent; and c) deducting financial assistance received from outside sources such as pre-need funeral arrangements, burial insurance, and assistance from other voluntary or government agencies.

5 - Open

We recommend that the FEMA Administrator ensure that FEMA provides its COVID-19 Funeral Assistance call center contractor the guidance and training necessary to meet the quality control and production monitoring metrics as prescribed by its agreement with the contractor.