Office of Counsel to the Inspector General

Mission

The Office of Counsel to the Inspector General (OCIG) promotes the overall mission of the Office of Inspector General through timely, accurate and persuasive legal advocacy and counsel.

Functions

The OCIG -

provides general legal services to OIG, including advice and representation on HHS programs and operations, administrative law issues, and criminal procedure;
imposes program exclusions and civil money penalties on health care providers and litigates those actions within the Department;
represents the OIG in the global settlement of cases arising under the civil False Claims Act, develops and monitors corporate integrity agreements, develops compliance program guidance; and
renders advisory opinions on OIG sanctions and issues fraud alerts and other industry guidance.