On June 9, 2020, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) published its monthly update to its Work Plan adding three (3) new COVID-19 related topics.
Meeting the Challenges Presented by COVID-19: Nursing Homes - The first part of this study will describe the characteristics of the nursing homes that were hardest hit by the pandemic . The second part of this study will describe the strategies nursing homes have used to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on their residents and staff in the face of these unique circumstances.
Opioid Treatment Challenges During the COVID-19 Pandemic - The OIG will identify the challenges that opioid treatment programs (OTPs) are encountering during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the OIG will identify the actions that OTPs are taking to address those challenges while ensuring the continuity of needed services and protecting the health and safety of their clients and staff.
Audit of Nursing Homes’ Reporting of COVID-19 Information Under CMS’s New Requirements - CMS added requirements to an existing regulation that requires nursing homes to report communicable diseases, health care-associated infections, and potential outbreaks. These facilities must now report COVID-19 data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through its National Healthcare Safety Network system. The OIG will assess nursing homes' reporting of CMS-required information related to the COVID-19 public health emergency and determine whether the data reported by nursing homes were complete, accurate, and reliable.
The access the OIG’s full Work Plan, click here.
