Summary

GAO reviewed the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Office of the Inspector General's (OIG) compliance with professional standards.

GAO found that: (1) OIG did not have sufficient evidence to fully support all the findings and conclusions in 6 of 18 audit reports; (2) six audits did not have recommendations that followed logically from the facts presented; (3) seven audits failed to accurately reflect the audits' objectives; (4) the OIG quality assurance program did not always adhere to prescribed audit standards, policies, and procedures; and (5) eight audits did not adequately show the underlying causes of identified problems. GAO also found that: (1) data in the investigation management information system were not always reliable; (2) the OIG hotline staff took an average of 34 days to screen and forward allegations of waste, mismanagement, fraud, and abuse; (3) OIG did not know the disposition of over 83 percent of the hotline cases; (4) the inspection function's standards and procedures manual did not contain specific standards on supervisors' duties and responsibilities; (5) the inspection function did not retain supporting documentation for all of its report statements; (6) the inspection function did not fully implement the procedures for its quality assurance program; and (7) there was satisfactory support for 92 percent of the $6.63 billion in reported OIG monetary accomplishments.