Reports

The United States faces two simultaneous nationwide public health emergencies: the opioid epidemic and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Recently released Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data identified that in 2018, there were nearly 47,000 opioid-related overdose deaths in the United States. In addition, as of May 28, 2020, over 100,000 U.S. citizens had died from complications related to COVID-19. Because of the widespread transmission of COVID-19, Federal, State, Tribal, and local government agencies have recommended and implemented extensive community mitigation activities, including issuing orders to residents to stay at home and practice social distancing, to help slow and contain the spread of the virus. We plan to identify the challenges that opioid treatment programs (OTPs) are encountering during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, we will identify the actions that OTPs are taking to address those challenges while ensuring the continuity of needed services and protecting the health and safety of their clients and staff.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for nursing homes. These challenges include procuring critical supplies, testing residents and staff, isolating high numbers of contagious residents, caring for those afflicted, and protecting staff on a scale never before experienced in this country. This nationwide, two-part study on nursing homes will examine how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected nursing homes. The first part will describe the characteristics of the nursing homes that were hardest hit by the pandemic (i.e. homes with high numbers of residents who had COVID-19 or had died). The second part will describe the strategies nursing homes have used to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on their residents and staff in the face of these unique circumstances.

We plan to begin the subject audit in June 2020. The objective of this audit is to determine whether the DoD followed guidance and implemented procedures to prevent and reduce the spread of the coronavirus disease–2019 (COVID-19) at basic military training facilities, while maintaining military readiness. We may revise the objective as the audit proceeds, and we will also consider suggestions from management for additional or revised objectives.

We plan to begin the subject audit in May 2020. We are conducting this audit in compliance with Public Law No. 116-136, “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.” The objective of this audit is to determine whether DoD Components maintained network protections as the DoD workforce maximized the use of telework capabilities to ensure the continuity of mission essential tasks during the Coronavirus Disease–2019 pandemic. We may revise the objective as the audit proceeds, and we will also consider suggestions from management for additional or revised objectives.

We plan to begin this audit in May 2020. The objective of this audit is to assess DoD’s implementation of section 3610 as authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, including whether contracting officers properly authorized and reimbursed contractor costs. We may revise the objective as the audit proceeds, and will also consider suggestions from management for additional or revised objectives.

 We plan to begin the subject audit in June 2020. The objective of this audit is to determine whether U.S. Northern Command and supporting DoD Components identified, tracked, requested, and received reimbursement for coronavirus disease–2019 mission assignments in accordance with Federal and DoD policies. We may revise the objective as the audit proceeds, and we will consider suggestions from management for additional or revised objectives.

The Office of Inspector General will be conducting an evaluation of SBA’s implementation of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Section 1112, subsidy for 7(a) loan payments. Our evaluation objective is to determine whether SBA has effective internal controls to provide debt relief to 7(a) borrowers in accordance with CARES Act Section 1112 and internal policies and procedures.

The Office of Inspector General at the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has begun the process for conducting the review of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) at RRB. From the CARES Act, RRB has three separate appropriations totaling over $600 million. These appropriations allow RRB to pay extended unemployment insurance benefits, to pay enhanced unemployment insurance payments, and to waive the first valid waiting period for unemployment benefits and for sickness benefits and pay for those days. The objective of this review is to provide RRB management with information that will assist them in ensuring compliance, transparency, and fiscal accountability.

We plan to begin the subject evaluation in May 2020. The objective of this evaluation is to determine the challenges and needs DoD medical treatment facilities (MTFs) encounter in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. We may revise the objective as the evaluation proceeds, and we will also consider suggestions from management for additional or revised objectives.

We plan to begin the subject audit in May 2020. The objective of this audit is to determine whether Al Udeid Air Base (AUAB) has the capability to treat coronavirus disease–2019 (COVID-19) patients and isolate or quarantine suspected infected service members, civilians, and contractors. We may revise the objective as the audit proceeds, and we will also consider suggestions from management for additional or revised objectives. We will perform the audit at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. We may identify additional locations during the audit.