  The American Veteran's On-Line News Magazine Click here to make VA Watchdog dot Org your homepage VA NEWS FLASH from Larry Scott at VA Watchdog dot Org -- 11-26-2008 |
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The American Veteran's On-Line News Magazine Click here to make VA Watchdog dot Org your homepage VA NEWS FLASH from Larry Scott at VA Watchdog dot Org -- 11-26-2008 |
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An in-depth look at the activities of the VAOIG during the second half of Fiscal Year 2008.
Complete semiannual report here...
IG's message below: Comments at bottom of page.
------------------------- Message from the Inspector General
This Semiannual Report to Congress focuses on the accomplishments of the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the reporting period from April 1, 2008, through September 30, 2008. Issued in accordance with the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, it presents results based on OIG strategic goals, which cover the areas of health care delivery, benefits processing, financial management, procurement practices, and information management. During this reporting period, OIG issued 58 reports on VA programs and operations. We recommended systemic improvements and effi ciencies in quality of care, accuracy of benefi ts, financial management, economy in procurement, and information security. OIG audits, investigations, and other reviews identified over $215 million in monetary benefi ts, for a return of $5 for every dollar expended on OIG oversight. Our criminal investigators have closed 547 investigations and made 233 arrests. OIG investigative work also resulted in 368 administrative sanctions. Reviews by the Office of Healthcare Inspections (OHI)
of research studies at Veterans Health Administration (VHA) medical
facilities showed persistent deficiencies in oversight provided by
Institutional
On the benefits side, an audit on the impact of additional resources at the Veterans Benefi ts Administration (VBA) showed that a large influx of new employees resulted in a short-term decrease in VBA’s overall productivity in claims processing; as job proficiency increases, a substantial decrease in the claims backlog by 2011 is expected. Another audit found that a high percentage of benefi ts claims from seriously disabled veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom were not processed within VBA’s 30-day goal and that outreach efforts to service members and veterans needed improvement. The Office of Contract Review (OCR) conducted preaward and postaward reviews specifi cally designed to improve VA’s procurement process by protecting the interest of the Government and identifying and resolving contractor overcharges. OCR issued 48 reports that resulted in savings and dollar recoveries of $62 million. OIG appreciates the ongoing support we receive from the Secretary, the Deputy Secretary, and senior management. We look forward to working with VA and Congress to make VA as effective as possible in caring for our Nation’s veterans. GEORGE J. OPFER ------------------------- ------------------------- Don't forget to read all of today's VA News Flashes (click here) |
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