Reports
Evaluation of the National Reconnaissance Office’s COVID-19 Pandemic Response
GPO COVID-19 and Telework Survey Report
Audit of Health Resources and Services Administration's COVID-19 Uninsured Program
To address the COVID-19 pandemic, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (PPP) together appropriated $2 billion to reimburse providers for costs associated with conducting COVID-19 testing and testing-related items and services for the uninsured. Additionally, a portion of the $175 billion appropriated to the Provider Relief Fund by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) and PPP will be used for treating uninsured individuals with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. HHS, through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), launched the COVID-19 Uninsured Program Portal, a single electronic claims processing system for health care providers for submitting claims for reimbursements for diagnostic testing and treating uninsured individuals. We will determine whether claims for COVID-19 diagnostic testing and treatment services reimbursed by HHS through HRSA's COVID-19 Uninsured Program complied with Federal requirements.
National Snapshot of State Agency Approaches to Child Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Where’s the Money? DOI Use of CARES Act Funds as of August 31, 2020
HHS and ASPR Actions Related to Resources, Supplies, and Treatments Needed to Address COVID-19
HHS may take a variety of actions in response to an emerging infectious disease, including, but not limited to, actions related to resources, supplies, and treatments needed to address COVID-19. This study will examine actions taken by HHS, including the Office of Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, to protect public health in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement’s Safety Inspection Program COVID-19 Response
Audit of Foundational Cybersecurity Controls for the U.S. Healthcare COVID-19 Portal and Protect.HHS.gov
The Protect.HHS.gov ecosystem and the U.S. Healthcare COVID-19 portal are both critically important systems contributing to the Federal pandemic response. The data collected by these systems are utilized in the response to COVID-19 by, for example, tracking the movement of the virus, identifying potential stresses in the health care delivery system, and provide information about the distribution of supplies. Without proper cybersecurity, the integrity and availability of the data are at risk and the impact to public health efforts could be significant if decisionmakers cannot rely on COVID-19 data from States, communities, and hospitals. We will determine whether HHS has implemented foundational cybersecurity controls to ensure the integrity and availability of Protect.HHS.gov and the U.S. Healthcare COVID-19 portal.
Infection Control and Emergency Preparedness at Dialysis Centers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
CDC has stated that beneficiaries with serious underlying medical conditions, such as end-stage renal disease (ESRD), are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Regardless of the current pandemic, dialysis patients are at high risk of infection because of weakened immune systems, coexisting conditions such as diabetes, and treatments requiring frequent use of catheters or insertions of needles to access the bloodstream. ESRD facility conditions for coverage regarding infection control and emergency preparedness are defined in 42 CFR 494 Subpart B. On March 30, 2020, CMS issued a revised memorandum providing guidance for infection control and prevention of COVID-19 in dialysis facilities. We will interview corporate officers from the three ESRD service companies covering more than 75 percent of CY 2018 Medicare reimbursements and 71 percent of dialysis clinics. Our objective is to determine whether ESRD facilities implemented additional infection control and emergency preparedness procedures in accordance with CMS and CDC guidance to safeguard high risk ESRD beneficiaries during the COVID-19 pandemic.