[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 73 (Monday, April 18, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20147-20152]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-7612]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of Inspector General


Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of 
Authority

    This notice amends Part A (Office of the Secretary) of the 
Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority for 
the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reflect a 
realignment of functions and responsibilities within the Office of 
Inspector General (OIG). The statement of organization, functions, and 
delegations of authority conforms to and carries out the statutory 
requirements for operating OIG. Chapter AF was last published in its 
entirety on July 2, 2004.
    The realignment of functions and responsibilities within OIG has 
been done to allow greater staff flexibility and to better reflect the 
current work environment and priorities within the organization. In 
addition, this notice sets forth a number of technical changes in 
Chapter AF that serve to update references to office titles and 
statutory authorities.
    As amended, Chapter AF now reads as follows:

Section AF.00, Office of Inspector General--Mission

    The Office of Inspector General (OIG) was established by law as an 
independent and objective oversight unit of the Department to carry out 
the mission of promoting economy, efficiency and effectiveness through 
the elimination of waste, abuse and fraud. In furtherance of this 
mission, the organization:
    A. Conducts and supervises audits, investigations, inspections and 
evaluations relating to HHS programs and operations.
    B. Identifies systemic weaknesses giving rise to opportunities for 
fraud and abuse in HHS programs and operations and makes 
recommendations to prevent their recurrence.
    C. Leads and coordinates activities to prevent and detect fraud and 
abuse in HHS programs and operations.
    D. Detects wrongdoers and abusers of HHS programs and beneficiaries 
so appropriate remedies may be brought to bear.
    E. Keeps the Secretary and the Congress fully and currently 
informed about problems and deficiencies in the administration of HHS 
programs and operations and about the need for and progress of 
corrective action, including imposing sanctions against providers of 
health care under Medicare and Medicaid who commit certain prohibited 
acts.
    In support of its mission, OIG carries out and maintains an 
internal quality assurance system and a peer review system with other 
Offices of Inspectors General, including periodic quality assessment 
studies and quality control reviews, to provide reasonable assurance 
that applicable laws, regulations, policies, procedures, standards, and 
other requirements are followed, are effective, and are functioning as 
intended in OIG operations.

Section AF.10, Office of Inspector General--Organization

    There is at the head of OIG a statutory Inspector General, 
appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. This office 
consists of six organizational units:

A. Immediate Office of the Inspector General (AFA)
B. Office of Management and Policy (AFC)
C. Office of Evaluation and Inspections (AFE)
D. Office of Counsel to the Inspector General (AFG)
E. Office of Audit Services (AFH)
F. Office of Investigations (AFJ)

Section AF.20, Office of Inspector General--Functions

    The component sections that follow describe the specific functions 
of the organization.

Section AFA.00, Immediate Office of the Inspector General--Mission

    The Immediate Office of the Inspector General (IOIG) is directly 
responsible for meeting the statutory mission of OIG as a whole and for 
promoting effective OIG internal quality assurance systems, including 
quality assessment studies and quality control reviews of OIG processes 
and products. The office also plans, conducts and participates in a 
variety of interagency cooperative projects and undertakings relating 
to fraud and abuse with the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Centers 
for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and other governmental agencies, 
and is responsible for the reporting and legislative and regulatory 
review functions required by the Inspector General Act.

Section AFA.10, Immediate Office of the Inspector General--Organization

    IOIG is comprised of the Inspector General, the Principal Deputy 
Inspector General and an immediate office staff, including the Office 
of External Affairs.

Section AFA.20, Immediate Office of the Inspector General--Functions

    As the senior official of the organization, the Inspector General 
supervises the Chief Counsel to the Inspector General and the Deputy 
Inspectors General, who head the major OIG components. The Inspector 
General is appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of 
the Senate, and reports to and is under the general supervision of the 
Secretary or, to the extent such authority is delegated, the Deputy 
Secretary, but does not report to and is not subject to supervision by 
any other officer in the Department. In keeping with the independence 
conferred by the Inspector General Act, the Inspector General assumes 
and exercises, through line management, all functional authorities 
related to the administration and management of OIG and all mission-
related authorities stated or implied in the law or delegated directly 
from the Secretary.

[[Page 20148]]

    The Inspector General provides executive leadership to the 
organization and exercises general supervision over the personnel and 
functions of its major components. The Inspector General determines the 
budget needs of OIG, sets OIG policies and priorities, oversees OIG 
operations and provides reports to the Secretary and the Congress. By 
statute, the Inspector General exercises general personnel authority, 
e.g., selection, promotion, and assignment of employees, including 
members of the senior executive service. The Inspector General 
delegates related authorities as appropriate.
    The Principal Deputy Inspector General assists the Inspector 
General in the management of OIG, and during the absence of the 
Inspector General, acts as the Inspector General.
    The Office of External Affairs is comprised of three components--
Public Affairs, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, and the Executive 
Secretariat. The office conducts and coordinates reviews of existing 
and proposed legislation and regulations related to HHS programs and 
operations to identify their impact on economy and efficiency and their 
potential for fraud and abuse. It serves as the contact for the press 
and electronic media and serves as OIG congressional liaison. The 
office prepares or coordinates congressional testimony and confers with 
officials in the Office of the Secretary staff divisions on 
congressional relations, legislation and public affairs. The office 
coordinates the distribution of all legislatively-mandated reports to 
the Congress. It develops and publishes OIG newsletters and other 
issuances to announce and promote OIG activities and accomplishments. 
The office has primary responsibility for developing and promulgating 
all OIG regulations for codification into the Code of Federal 
Regulations, and for preparing all OIG related notices and other 
documents for Federal Register publication. The office also serves as 
OIG liaison to the Office of the Secretary for Freedom of Information 
and Privacy Act requests.

Section AFC.00, Office of Management and Policy--Mission

    The Office of Management and Policy (OMP) provides mission support 
services to the Inspector General and other components. The office 
formulates and executes the budget, develops functional policies for 
the general management of OIG, and manages information technology 
resources.
    In support of its mission, the office carries out and maintains an 
internal quality assurance system. The system includes quality control 
reviews of OMP processes and products to ensure that policies and 
procedures are followed effectively and function as intended.

Section AFC.10, Office of Management and Policy--Organization

    The office is directed by the Deputy Inspector General for 
Management and Policy and the Assistant Inspector General for 
Information Technology. The office is comprised of the following 
components:

A. Budget Operations
B. Information Technology
C. Policy, Planning and Performance

Section AFC.20, Office of Management and Policy--Functions

A. Budget Operations

    The office formulates and oversees the execution of the budget and 
confers with the Office of the Secretary, the Office of Management and 
Budget, and the Congress on budget issues. It issues quarterly grants 
to States for Medicaid Fraud Control Units.

B. Information Technology

    The office is responsible for information resources management 
(IRM), as defined by the Paperwork Reduction Act, OMB Circular A-130, 
the Federal Information Resources Management regulations, the Computer 
Security Act of 1987, the Clinger-Cohen Act, the Federal Information 
Security Management Act of 2002, HHS IRM Circulars, and by related 
guidance. The office also provides nationwide information technology 
support to OIG through management of its local area networks, provision 
of computer end-user and direct mission information technology (IT) 
support, maintenance of OIG information systems, and safeguarding 
sensitive information and IT resources. The Assistant Inspector General 
for Information Technology, who reports to the Inspector General 
through the Deputy Inspector General for Management and Policy, serves 
as Chief Information Officer.

C. Policy, Planning and Performance

    This office coordinates the development of the work planning 
process, including strategic long-range planning, tactical planning and 
the annual work plan coordination and production. It compiles the 
Office of Inspector General Semiannual Report to the Congress. It is 
responsible for overseeing emergency operations and national security 
classification policy, and for coordinating updates of the Red Book, 
which addresses unimplemented OIG recommendations to reduce fraud, 
waste and abuse. The office also conducts management studies and 
analyzes and establishes and coordinates general management policies 
for OIG and publishes those policies in the OIG Administrative Manual. 
It serves as OIG liaison to the Office of the Secretary for personnel 
issues and other administrative policies and practices, and on equal 
employment opportunity and other civil rights matters. It coordinates 
internal control reviews for OIG.

Section AFE.00, Office of Evaluation and Inspections--Mission

    The Office of Evaluation and Inspections (OEI) is responsible for 
conducting a comprehensive set of in-depth evaluations of HHS programs, 
operations and processes to identify vulnerabilities, to prevent and 
detect fraud, waste and abuse, and to promote efficiency and 
effectiveness in HHS programs and operations.

Section AFE.10, Office of Evaluation and Inspections--Organization

    This office is comprised of the following components:

A. Immediate Office
B. Policy and Oversight Division
C. Program Evaluations Division
D. Regional Operations
E. Technical Support Staff

Section AFE.20, Office of Evaluation and Inspections--Functions

A. Immediate Office of the Deputy Inspector General for OEI

    This office is directed by the Deputy Inspector General for OEI 
who, with the assistance of an Assistant Inspector General, is 
responsible for carrying out OIG's evaluations mission and supervises 
the Directors for Policy and Oversight, Program Evaluations, Regional 
Operations, and Technical Support. This office is also responsible for 
the oversight of the State Medicaid Fraud Control Units and for 
certifying and recertifying these units and for auditing their Federal 
funding.

B. Policy and Oversight

    This office develops OEI's evaluation and inspection policies, 
procedures and standards. It manages OEI's human and financial 
resources; develops and monitors OEI's management information systems; 
and conducts management reviews within the HHS/OIG and for other OIGs 
upon request. The office carries out and maintains an internal quality 
assurance system. The system includes quality assessment studies and 
quality control reviews of OEI processes and products to ensure that 
policies and

[[Page 20149]]

procedures are effective, followed, and functioning as intended.

C. Program Evaluations

    This office manages OEI's work planning process, and develops and 
reviews legislative, regulatory and program proposals to reduce 
vulnerabilities to fraud, waste and mismanagement. It develops 
evaluation techniques and coordinates projects with other OIG and 
Departmental components. It provides programmatic expertise and 
information on new programs, procedures, regulations and statutes to 
OEI regional offices. It maintains liaison with other components in the 
Department, follows up on implementation of corrective action 
recommendations, evaluates the actions taken to resolve problems and 
vulnerabilities identified, and provides additional data or corrective 
action options, where appropriate.

D. Regional Operations

    This office is responsible for OEI's mission in the field. The 
regional offices conduct extensive evaluations of HHS programs and 
produce the results in inspection reports. They conduct data and trend 
analyses of major HHS initiatives to determine the effects of current 
policies and practices on program efficiency and effectiveness. They 
recommend changes in program policies, regulations and laws to improve 
efficiency and effectiveness, and to prevent fraud, abuse, waste and 
mismanagement. They analyze existing policies to evaluate options for 
future policy, regulatory and legislative improvement.

E. Technical Support

    This office provides statistical and database advice and services 
for inspections conducted by the regional offices. It carries out 
analyses of large databases to identify potential areas of fraud and 
abuse and provides technical assistance to the regional offices for 
these purposes.

Section AFG.00, Office of Counsel to the Inspector General--Mission

    The Office of Counsel to the Inspector General (OCIG) is 
responsible for providing all legal services and advice to the 
Inspector General, Principal Deputy Inspector General and all the 
subordinate components of the Office of Inspector General, in 
connection with OIG operations and administration, OIG fraud and abuse 
enforcement and compliance activities, and OIG activities designed to 
promote efficiency and economy in the Department's programs and 
operations. OCIG is also responsible for proposing and litigating civil 
money penalty (CMP) and program exclusion cases within the jurisdiction 
of OIG, for coordinating False Claims Act and criminal, civil and 
administrative fraud and abuse law enforcement matters, and for 
resolving voluntary disclosure cases. OCIG develops guidance to assist 
providers in establishing compliance programs; monitors ongoing 
compliance of providers subject to integrity agreements; and promotes 
industry awareness through the issuance of advisory opinions, fraud 
alerts, and special advisory bulletins.

Section AFG.10, Office of Counsel to the Inspector General--
Organization

    The office is directed by the Chief Counsel to the Inspector 
General and the Assistant Inspector General for Legal Affairs. The 
office is comprised of the following components:
    A. Advice
    B. Administrative and Civil Remedies
    C. Industry Guidance

Section AFG.20, Office of Counsel to the Inspector General--Functions

A. Advice

    This office provides legal advice to the various components of OIG 
on issues that arise in the exercise of OIG's responsibilities under 
the Inspector General Act of 1978. Such issues include the scope and 
exercise of the Inspector General's authorities and responsibilities; 
investigative techniques and procedures (including criminal procedure); 
the sufficiency and impact of legislative proposals affecting OIG; and 
the conduct and resolution of investigations, audits and inspections. 
The office evaluates the legal sufficiency of OIG recommendations and 
develops formal legal opinions to support these recommendations. When 
appropriate, the office coordinates formal legal opinions with the HHS 
Office of the General Counsel. The office provides legal advice on OIG 
internal administration and operations, including appropriations, 
delegations of authority, OIG regulations, personnel matters, the 
disclosure of information under the Freedom of Information Act, and the 
safeguarding of information under the Privacy Act. The office provides 
advice and guidance on Government ethics and assists the Chief Counsel 
in his/her role as OIG's Deputy Ethics Officer. The office is 
responsible for conducting and coordinating litigation activities on 
personnel and Equal Employment Opportunity matters and Federal tort 
actions involving OIG employees. The office is responsible for the 
clearance and enforcement of subpoenas issued by OIG, and defends OIG 
in litigation matters as necessary.

B. Administrative and Civil Remedies

    1. This office is responsible for determining whether to propose or 
implement administrative sanctions, including CMPs within the 
jurisdiction of OIG, assessments, and program exclusions. The office, 
in conjunction with the Office of Investigations (OI), effectuates all 
mandatory and permissive exclusions from participation in Federal 
health care programs under the Social Security Act; decides on all 
requests for reinstatement from, or waiver of, exclusions; and 
participates in developing standards governing the imposition of these 
exclusion authorities. The office litigates appeals of program 
exclusions before the Departmental Appeals Board and assists DOJ in 
handling any subsequent appeals of such cases to the Federal courts.
    2. The office reviews all cases referred by CMS under the patient 
anti-dumping authority of the Social Security Act and, where 
appropriate, proposes and litigates CMPs with respect to hospitals, and 
CMPs and program exclusions with respect to physicians, for violations 
of the patient anti-dumping statute.
    3. The office proposes and litigates CMPs, assessments and program 
exclusions under the CMP law and other CMP authorities delegated to 
OIG.
    4. In coordination with DOJ, the office handles all False Claims 
Act cases, including qui tam cases, and is responsible for final sign-
off on False Claims Act settlements for the Department, including the 
resolution of the CMP and program exclusion authorities that have been 
delegated to OIG. It participates in settlement negotiations and 
provides litigation support. The office, in conjunction with OI, 
coordinates resolution of all voluntary disclosure cases, both under 
the OIG Self-Disclosure Protocol and otherwise, through: liaison 
activities with DOJ and U.S. Attorneys offices; the disclosure 
verification efforts of the Office of Audit Services (OAS) and OI; and 
final disposition and sign-off of the matter. The office is responsible 
for developing and maintaining a comprehensive and coordinated database 
on all settled and pending False Claims Act, CMP, and exclusion cases 
under its authority.
    5. The office also develops and monitors corporate and provider 
integrity programs adopted as part of settlement agreements, conducts 
on-site reviews, and develops audit and investigative review standards 
for monitoring such plans in cooperation

[[Page 20150]]

with other OIG components. The office resolves breaches of integrity 
agreements through the development of corrective action plans and 
through the imposition of sanctions.

C. Industry Guidance

    This office is responsible for drafting and issuing advisory 
opinions to the health care industry and members of the public on 
whether an activity (or proposed activity) would constitute grounds for 
the imposition of a sanction under the anti-kickback statute, the CMP 
law or the program exclusion authorities, and on other issues 
pertaining to the anti-kickback statute. The office develops and 
updates procedures for the submission of requests for advisory opinions 
and for determining the fees that will be imposed. The office solicits 
and responds to proposals for new regulatory safe harbors to the anti-
kickback statute, modifications to existing safe harbors, and new fraud 
alerts. The office consults with DOJ on all proposed advisory opinions 
and safe harbors before issuance or publication. The office provides 
legal advice to the various components of OIG, other offices of the 
Department, and DOJ concerning matters involving the interpretation of 
the anti-kickback statute and other legal authorities, and assists 
those components or offices in analyzing the applicability of the anti-
kickback statute to various practices or activities under review.

Section AFH.00, Office of Audit Services--Mission

    The Office of Audit Services (OAS) provides policy direction for 
and conducts and oversees comprehensive audits of HHS programs, 
operations, grantees and contractors, following generally accepted 
government auditing standards (GAGAS), the Single Audit Act of 1984, 
applicable Office of Management and Budget (OMB) circulars and other 
legal, regulatory and administrative requirements. This includes 
investigative audit work performed in conjunction with other OIG 
components. The office maintains an internal quality assurance system, 
including periodic quality assessment studies and quality control 
reviews, to provide reasonable assurance that applicable laws, 
regulations, policies, procedures, standards and other requirements are 
followed in all audit activities performed for, or on behalf of, the 
Department. In furtherance of this mission, the organization engages in 
a number of activities:
    A. The office coordinates and confers with officials of the central 
Federal management agencies (OMB, the Government Accountability Office 
(GAO), the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Department of 
the Treasury) on audit matters involving HHS programs and operations. 
It provides technical assistance to Federal, State and local 
investigative offices on matters involving HHS programs and operations. 
It participates in interagency efforts implementing OMB Circular 133, 
which calls for use of the single audit concept for most external 
audits, as well as reviews the quality of those audits as they pertain 
to HHS oversight responsibilities. It performs audits of activities 
administered by other Federal departments, following the system of 
audit cognizance administered by OMB. It participates in the 
President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency (PCIE) initiatives and 
other governmentwide projects; works with other OIG components on 
special assignments and projects; and responds to congressional 
oversight interests related to audit matters in the Department.
    B. The office provides comprehensive audit services to HHS 
operating divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary staff 
divisions (STAFFDIVs) in their development of program policies and 
management of grants and procurement and in their establishment of 
indirect cost rates. The office also performs pre-award audits of grant 
or contract proposals to determine the financial capability of the 
grantees or contractors and conducts post-award audits.
    C. The office reviews legislative, regulatory and policy proposals 
for audit implications. It recommends improvements in the 
accountability and integrity features of legislation, regulations and 
policy. It prepares reports of audits and special studies for the 
Secretary, heads of HHS OPDIVs, regional directors and others. It 
gathers data on unresolved audit findings for the statutorily required 
semiannual reports to the Congress and reconciles resolution data with 
the Department OPDIVs as required by the Inspector General Act of 1978, 
as amended by Inspector General Act Amendments of 1988 (Public Law 100-
504). It conducts follow-up examinations and special analyses of 
actions taken on previously reported audit findings and recommendations 
to ensure completeness and propriety. The office provides input to the 
Office of Inspector General Semiannual Report to the Congress and 
produces summaries for both (1) the Orange Book--a summary of 
unimplemented program and management improvements recommended--and (2) 
the Red Book--a summary of significant monetary recommendations not yet 
implemented.
    D. The office serves as the focal point for all financial 
management audit activity within the Department and acts as the primary 
liaison between the OIG and Departmental management. It also provides 
overall leadership and direction in carrying out the responsibilities 
mandated under the Chief Financial Officers Act relating to financial 
statement audits.

Section AFH.10, Office of Audit Services--Organization

    The office is comprised of the following components:

A. Immediate Office
B. Financial Management and Regional Operations
C. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Audits
D. Grants and Internal Activities Audits
E. Audit Management, Policy, and Information Technology Audits

Section AFH.20, Office of Audit Services--Functions

A. Immediate Office of the Deputy Inspector General for Audit Services

    This office is directed by the Deputy Inspector General for Audit 
Services who carries out the functions designated in the law (section 
3(d)(1) of the Inspector General Act) for the position, Assistant 
Inspector General for Auditing. The Deputy Inspector General for Audit 
Services is responsible to the Inspector General for carrying out OIG's 
audit mission and supervises the Assistant Inspectors General heading 
OAS offices described below.

B. Financial Management and Regional Operations

    This office is directed by the Assistant Inspector General for 
Financial Management and Regional Operations. In addition to directing 
this office, the Assistant Inspector General supervises the eight 
Regional Inspectors General for Audit Services. The office's principal 
functions include the direct-line responsibility for audits of 
financial statements and financial statement-related audits, including 
internal audits of functional areas within the Department, and 
directing field audit operations.
    1. The office serves as the focal point for all financial statement 
and financial statement-related audit activity within the Department 
and serves as the primary liaison between OIG and departmental 
management with respect to those audits.
    2. The office provides oversight for audits of governments, 
universities and

[[Page 20151]]

nonprofit organizations conducted by nonfederal auditors (external 
audit resources) and those under contract with OIG.
    3. The office maintains an internal quality assurance system that 
provides reasonable assurance that applicable laws, regulations, 
policies, procedures, standards and other requirements are followed in 
all financial management audit activities performed by the office, or 
on behalf of the Department.

C. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Audits

    This office is directed by the Assistant Inspector General for 
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Audits. The office conducts 
audits of CMS program operations and oversees nationwide the audits of 
the Medicare and Medicaid programs, their contractors, and providers of 
services and products. It maintains an internal quality assurance 
system to provide reasonable assurance that applicable laws, 
regulations, policies, procedures, standards and other requirements are 
followed in all CMS audit activities performed by, or on behalf of, the 
Department.

D. Grants and Internal Activities Audits

    This office is directed by the Assistant Inspector General for 
Grants and Internal Activities Audits. The office conducts and oversees 
audits of the operations and programs of the Administration for 
Children and Families, the Administration on Aging, and the Public 
Health programs, as well as Statewide cost allocation plans. It 
maintains an internal quality assurance system, including periodic 
quality control reviews, to provide reasonable assurance that 
applicable laws, regulations, policies, procedures, standards and other 
requirements are followed in its audit activities.

E. Audit Management, Policy, and Information Technology Audits

    This office is directed by the Assistant Inspector General for 
Audit Management and Policy. The office manages the human and financial 
resources of OAS, including developing staffing allocation plans and 
issuing policy for, coordinating and monitoring all budget, staffing, 
recruiting, and training activities of the office. It maintains a 
professional development program for office staff, which meets the 
requirements of Government auditing standards. The office evaluates 
audit work, including performing quality control reviews of audit 
reports, and coordinates the development of and monitors audit work 
plans. It operates and maintains an OAS-wide quality assurance program 
that includes the conduct of periodic quality control reviews. It 
develops audit policy, procedures, standards, criteria and instructions 
to be followed by OAS staff in conducting audits of departmental 
programs, grants, contracts or operations. Such policy is developed in 
accordance with GAGAS and other legal, regulatory and administrative 
requirements. The office tracks, monitors and reports on audit 
resolution and follow-up in accordance with OMB Circular A-50, ``Audit 
Follow-up,'' and the 1988 Inspector General Act Amendments. The office 
coordinates with other OIG divisions in developing input to the Office 
of Inspector General Annual Work Plan, to the Office of Inspector 
General's Orange and Red Books, and to the Office of Inspector General 
Semiannual Report to the Congress. The office reviews the design, 
development and maintenance of Department computer-based systems 
through the conduct of comprehensive audits of general and application 
controls in accordance with GAO's Federal Information System Controls 
Audit Manual and develops and applies advanced computer-based audit 
techniques for use in detecting fraud, waste and abuse in HHS programs.

Section AFJ.00, Office of Investigations--Mission

    The Office of Investigations (OI) is responsible for conducting and 
coordinating investigative activities related to fraud, waste, abuse 
and mismanagement in HHS programs and operations, including wrongdoing 
by applicants, grantees, and contractors, or by HHS employees in the 
performance of their official duties. It serves as OIG liaison to DOJ 
on all matters relating to investigations of HHS programs and 
personnel, and reports to the Attorney General when OIG has reasonable 
grounds to believe Federal criminal law has been violated. The office 
serves as a liaison to CMS, State licensing boards, and other outside 
organizations and entities with regard to exclusion, compliance and 
enforcement activities. It works with other investigative agencies and 
organizations on special projects and assignments. In support of its 
mission, the office carries out and maintains an internal quality 
assurance system. The system includes quality assessment studies and 
quality control reviews of OI processes and products to ensure that 
policies and procedures are followed effectively, and are functioning 
as intended.

Section AFJ.10, Office of Investigations--Organization

    This office is comprised of the following components:

A. Immediate Office
B. Investigative Operations
C. Investigative Oversight and Support

Section AFJ.20, Office of Investigations--Functions

A. Immediate Office of the Deputy Inspector General for Investigations

    This office is directed by the Deputy Inspector General for 
Investigations (DIGI), who is responsible for the functions designated 
in the law for the position Assistant Inspector General for 
Investigations. The DIGI supervises the Assistant Inspector General for 
Investigative Operations and the Assistant Inspector General for 
Investigative Oversight and Support, who head the offices described 
below.
    The DIGI is responsible to the Inspector General for carrying out 
the investigative mission of OIG and for leading and providing general 
supervision to the OIG investigative component. The Immediate Office 
provides broad guidance and instruction to staff and serves as the 
focal point for interaction within OIG. The Immediate Office handles 
all investigative and management advisory services for the DIGI, 
ensuring that the DIGI is briefed on all complex, sensitive and 
precedent-setting program and administrative issues that may 
significantly impact on OI management and the investigative program 
nationwide. The Immediate Office coordinates special investigations, 
studies and analyses with respect to OIG responsibilities and serves as 
liaison with other Federal, State and local agencies.

B. Investigative Operations

    The Assistant Inspector General for Investigative Operations, who 
supervises a headquarters staff and the Special Agents in Charge, 
directs this office.
    1. The headquarters staff assists the Deputy Inspector General for 
Investigations in establishing investigative priorities, evaluating the 
progress of investigations, and reporting to the Inspector General on 
the effectiveness of investigative efforts. It develops and implements 
investigative techniques, programs, guidelines, and policies. It 
provides programmatic expertise and issues information on new programs, 
regulations and statutes. It directs and coordinates the investigative 
regional offices.
    2. The headquarters staff identifies systemic and programmatic

[[Page 20152]]

vulnerabilities in the Department's operations and makes 
recommendations for change to the appropriate managers.
    3. The office develops all derivative mandatory and permissive 
program exclusions, and ensures enforcement of exclusions imposed 
through liaison with CMS, DOJ and other governmental and private sector 
entities. It is responsible for developing, improving and maintaining a 
comprehensive and coordinated OIG database on all OIG exclusion 
actions, and promptly and accurately reports all exclusion actions 
within its authority to the database. It informs appropriate regulatory 
agencies, health care providers and the general public of all OIG 
exclusion actions, and is responsible for improving public access to 
information on these exclusion actions to ensure that excluded 
individuals and entities are effectively barred from program 
participation.
    4. The regional offices conduct investigations of allegations of 
fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement and violations of standards of 
conduct within the jurisdiction of OIG in their assigned geographic 
areas. They coordinate investigations and confer with HHS operating 
divisions, staff divisions, OIG counterparts and other investigative 
and law enforcement agencies. They prepare investigative and management 
improvement reports.
    5. The office directs and manages extremely sensitive and complex 
investigations into alleged misconduct by OIG and Department employees, 
as well as criminal investigations into electronic and/or computer-
related violations.

C. Investigative Oversight and Support

    This office is directed by the Assistant Inspector General for 
Investigative Oversight and Support, who performs the general 
management functions of the Office of Investigations.
    1. This office manages the human and financial resources of OI, 
including developing staffing allocation plans and issuing policy for 
coordination and monitoring all budget, staffing and recruiting.
    2. This office plans, develops, implements and evaluates all levels 
of employee training for investigators, managers, support staff and 
other personnel. It oversees a law enforcement techniques and equipment 
program.
    3. This office coordinates the general management processes, and 
implements policies and procedures published in the OIG Administrative 
Manual and elsewhere. It also coordinates a national inspection program 
to ensure compliance with the Federal Managers Financial Integrity Act, 
the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency, and Attorney 
General guidelines.
    4. The office coordinates with the other OIG components in 
developing the Work Plan and provides input to the Office of Inspector 
General Semiannual Report to the Congress.
    5. The staff provides for the personal protection of the Secretary.
    6. The office maintains an automated data and management 
information system used by all OI managers and investigators. It 
provides technical expertise on computer applications for 
investigations and coordinates and approves investigative computer 
matches with other agencies.
    7. The office operates a toll-free hotline for OIG to permit 
individuals to call in suspected fraud, waste, or abuse; refers the 
calls for appropriate action by HHS agencies or other OIG components; 
and analyzes the body of calls to identify trends and patterns of fraud 
and abuse needing attention.
    8. The office promotes and coordinates the adoption of advanced 
information technology forensics in the prevention and detection of 
fraud and provides general and specific coordination of programs to 
retrieve and analyze computer-based forensic evidence.

    Dated: March 23, 2005.
Daniel R. Levinson,
Acting Inspector General.
[FR Doc. 05-7612 Filed 4-15-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4152-01-P