Dear Mr. Walker and Dr. Scanlon:
As you know, the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS-OIG) is charged by law with protecting the integrity of Department of Health and Human Services programs as well as the health and welfare of the beneficiaries of those programs.
As part of its mission, the HHS-OIG performs audits, evaluations, and investigations involving the Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance Programs, which together comprise more than
$350 billion of the annual federal budget and which serve more than 70 million young, elderly,
disabled and low-income Americans. Over the years, the HHS-OIG has made findings and recommendations which have led to countless budget savings, improved program integrity and management, and substantial civil and criminal recoveries.
Because the HHS-OIG’s role in safeguarding these vital programs is of tremendous importance, and because we are concerned about the impact of the loss or reassignment of several senior managers on OIG operations, we are requesting that the U.S. General Accounting Office
(GAO) perform a management review of the HHS-OIG - including both its headquarters and field offices. The purpose of this review is to assess the HHS-OIG’s performance with regard to its mission, to compare its performance with past activities, and to establish a baseline against which to assess future activities.
Specifically, we would like GAO to examine key management and operational issues affecting productivity and morale. The study should examine trends in the number and intensity of audits, inspections, and other HHS-OIG issuances; resource allocation; human resource management; the OIG’s partnership activities with the law enforcement community; and the implementation of management policies and procedures which ensure the independent operation of the HHS-OIG.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. We look forward to working with you on this important project.
Sincerely,
Max Baucus
Chairman
Charles E. Grassley Ranking Member
John Breaux Chairman, Senate Special Committee on Aging
cc: The Honorable Tommy Thompson The Honorable Janet Rehnquist
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