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With emerging information on rates of infection and outcomes for the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), numerous reports document a disproportionate burden of infection and deaths among communities of color and economically disadvantaged communities. This study will examine data that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) collects and maintains that can be used to assess racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in COVID-19 cases and outcomes, as well as how CDC uses those data as part of its activities to address the COVID-19 pandemic. We will also examine CDC's...

As information on rates of infection and outcomes for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic emerges, numerous reports document racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in rates of adverse outcomes from COVID-19, including death. This study will review the locations of hospitals that received Provider Relief Funds, with particular attention to hospitals located in communities of color and economically disadvantaged communities that were disproportionately impacted by adverse COVID-19 outcomes (i.e., hospitalization or death).

As a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Medicaid provider enrollment through State Medicaid agencies has been expedited under the SSA §1135 Authority to Waive Requirements during National Emergencies. Rapid loosening of established provider screening and background check requirements may limit a State's ability to identify providers who are not eligible to participate in Medicaid. Our objective is to determine whether the State agency and providers complied with Federal and State requirements for newly enrolled providers under the national emergency declaration and if...

This work will provide details of the effectiveness of CMS controls over its Accelerated and Advance Payment Program (AAP) payments to providers and payment recovery. We will obtain data and meet with program officials to understand CMS's eligibility determination process for AAP payments and the steps CMS will have taken to recover such funds in compliance with the CARES Act and other Federal requirements. The objectives of our work will be to determine whether CMS made AAP payments to eligible providers and implemented controls to recover the AAP payments in compliance with the CARES Act and...

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to an unprecedented demand for diagnostic laboratory testing to determine whether an individual has the virus. Beyond the COVID-19 tests, laboratories can also perform add-on tests, for example to confirm or rule out diagnosis other than COVID-19. However, OIG has program integrity concerns related to add-on tests in conjunction with COVID-19 testing, particularly related to potentially fraudulent billing for associated respiratory pathogen panel (RPP) tests, allergy tests, or genetic tests. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services...

SAN JUAN, P.R. – El Fiscal Federal de los Estados Unidos para el Distrito de Puerto Rico W. Stephen Muldrow y el Elder Justice Task Force (EJTF, por sus siglas en inglés) anunciaron hoy el lanzamiento de una iniciativa de toma de pruebas COVID-19 a todos los residentes y empleados en los hogares y centros de cuido prolongado para adultos mayores de Puerto Rico. Esta iniciativa multi-agencial y multisectorial cubrirá más de 1,000 instalaciones, 28,000 residentes y 9,000 empleados y cuidadores durante las próximas tres semanas. Este esfuerzo ha sido posible con el apoyo del Departamento de Salud...

SAN JUAN, P.R. – Puerto Rico U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow and the Elder Justice Task Force (EJTF) announced today the launch of an island-wide COVID-19 testing initiative for all residents and employees in Puerto Rico’s long-term care facilities. This multi-agency, multisectoral initiative will cover over 1,000 facilities, 28,000 residents, and 9,000 employees and caregivers during the next three weeks. This effort has been possible with the support of the P.R. Department of Health, the P.R. Governor’s Medical Task Force, the P.R. Family Affairs Department, the P.R. Department of Justice’s...

Prosecutors from the four United States Attorney’s Offices in California, along with representatives from the FBI, will be participating in a telephonic town hall being coordinated by AARP to provide information to California residents to help them identify and avoid fraudulent schemes related to Coronavirus and COVID-19.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas has obtained a temporary restraining order preventing a DFW chiropractor from touting sham treatments for COVID-19.

Coronavirus Fraud Task Force Committed to Protecting U.S. Postal Service Delivery of Economic Impact Payments

$1,648,580 in federal grant dollars is now available to multiple communities across the Middle District of Georgia in response to the public safety challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act provided $64 million in additional resources for COVID-19 response activities through the Indian Health Service (IHS) and requires coverage, without cost-sharing, for COVID-19 testing for American Indians/Alaska Natives, who receive health services. The Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act provided $750 million for COVID-19 testing and testing-related services through IHS. From these two Acts, funding for COVID-19 testing to urban Indian organizations total $53 million and funding to IHS Federal health programs and Tribal...

In accordance with the CARES Act, Section 3610, “Federal Contractor Authority,” March 27, 2020 we will evaluate DIA’s implementation of Section 3610. Our objective is to determine whether DIA’s contractor reimbursements were appropriate and governed by policies and procedures that met the Act’s requirements.

As required by section 8L of the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, the Inspectors General for the Department of Defense, Department of State, and USAID work together to report quarterly to Congress on every overseas contingency operation’s progress and corresponding oversight activities. Starting in the second quarter of fiscal year 2020, these quarterly reports include reporting on the COVID-19 outbreaks in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, and the Philippines, as well as the U.S. government response to them.

The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Office of Inspector General (OIG) is conducting an evaluation of the NRO’s implementation of section 3610 authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The objectives are to evaluate the NRO’s implementation of section 3610 authorized by the CARES Act and to identify preliminary impacts to NRO mission.

In response to the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security's initiative to professionalize the analysis workforce within the Department of Defense (DoD), the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Office of the Inspector General initiated an evaluation to assess the Agency's effectiveness in serving as the All-Source Analyst Professional Certification Program management lead. We will assess the effectiveness of the DIA’s efforts to administer, implement, and oversee the program in accordance with DoD, Intelligence Community, Agency, and national accreditation policies and standards...

“A wave of scammers and thieves are working overtime during the COVID-19 pandemic to defraud the American public of their Economic Impact Payments,” warned U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox. “I urge the public to report any suspicious, fraudulent, or criminal activity related to the Coronavirus to law enforcement authorities.”

SAN FRANCISCO – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California unsealed charges today in a criminal complaint charging Carmelita Barela and Rosetta Shabazz with committing robbery affecting interstate commerce in connection with a scheme to steal merchandise from a Walgreens while claiming to have COVID-19, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett.

The Defense Intelligence Agency Office of the Inspector General initiated an evaluation of the Agency's use of Reserve military intelligence capabilities across the Defense Intelligence Enterprise. Our objective is to assess the effectiveness of Agency’s use of Reserve military intelligence forces for the delivery and integration of Reserve capabilities across the Defense Intelligence Enterprise in peacetime and during crisis and contingency operations. Through this evaluation effort, we will examine the use of Reserve military intelligence capabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

U.S. Attorney Bill Powell of the Northern District of West Virginia today announced that the city of Wheeling received $145,513 in Department of Justice grants to respond to the public safety challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.

The Department of Justice today filed a statement of interest in a Michigan federal court in support of a lawsuit filed by seven businesses challenging the restrictions imposed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

United States Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger today announced that various jurisdictions across the Eastern District of Virginia have recently been awarded over $764,000 in Department of Justice grants to respond to the public safety challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.

The Department of Justice today filed a statement of interest in a Colorado federal court supporting the First Amendment religious freedom claims of High Plains Harvest Church and its pastor.

The Department of Justice today filed a statement of interest in a Maine federal court in support of a lawsuit filed by campgrounds in Maine—and New Hampshire residents who wish to enjoy them—challenging a measure by Governor Janet Mills in response to COVID 19 that treats Maine residents more favorably than out-of-state residents when they seek to patronize campgrounds and RV parks within Maine.

A Georgia woman who sold an unregistered pesticide, which she claimed protected against viruses such as COVID-19, has pleaded guilty to violating the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

Thomas Cooper, a mail carrier in Pendleton County, was charged today in a criminal complaint with attempted election fraud, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced. Cooper, age 47, of Dry Fork, West Virginia, is charged with “Attempt to Defraud the Residents of West Virginia of a Fair Election.”