OIG reports on enforcement initiatives

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) recovered $2.2 billion in healthcare fraud in the first half of fiscal year 2008, according to its report to Congress. Half of those recoveries resulted from audits and the other from investigations.

• 1,291 individuals and organizations being excluded from participating in federal healthcare programs
• 293 criminal actions
• 142 civil actions such as False Claims Act cases and Civil Monetary Penalty settlements

 The actions included the $310 million settlement of kickback allegations involving four medical device makers that allegedly induced orthopedic surgeons to use their artificial hip and knee products. Other OIG oversight activities included review of conflicts of interest in research. The OIG concluded the National Institutes of Health needed to improve oversight of compliance with conflict of interest requirements for research grantees.