Fraud, Waste, and Abuse (FWA) Help
With your help, we can stop fraud, reduce costs and provide quality care for Veterans and beneficiaries. Fraud, waste and abuse has no role in VHA's Culture of Integrity.
What is fraud, waste and abuse?
- Fraud is the intentional misrepresentation of information to gain undeserved payment for a claim.
- Waste involves spending federal health care dollars on services that are unnecessary.
- Abuse involves a questionable practice, which is inconsistent with accepted medical or business policies.
How to report fraud, waste and abuse
There are various ways to report suspected fraud, waste and abuse. Employees and Veterans have the option to use any of the following methods:
VHA Integrity and Compliance Helpline
If you suspect fraud, waste, or abuse impacting Veterans or VA programs or if you think there might be an issue with a VHA healthcare claim or bill, a service you received, or VA community care or other healthcare provider please contact the VHA Integrity and Compliance Helpline.
Mailing Address:
ATTN: Integrity and Compliance Helpline (10OIC)
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington DC 20420
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
If you would like to report allegations of fraud related to Veterans benefits (service connected, dependency concerns, and /or beneficiary checks, etc.), please call the VBA Support line.
VBA Support: 800-827-1000, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. ET
Office of Inspector General
The Office of Integrity and Compliance (OIC) may refer matters to the independent Office of Inspector General (OIG) involving potential crimes (including fraud) or other wrongdoing for its investigation or oversight of VA programs and operations. You may also report fraud, waste, and abuse directly on the OIG website or at the OIG Hotline shown below:
Other ways to report
A VA employee, volunteer or medical professional OR your local integrity and compliance officer.
Information needed by the VHA Integrity and Compliance Helpline when reporting FWA
Complaints reported to the Office of Integrity and Compliance (OIC) should include sufficient information to determine whether they warrant review or investigation by OIC, such as:
- The healthcare provider’s name and contact information (address, phone number, email, and website).
- Information on the service or item you are questioning.
- A copy of the health care program's Explanation of Benefits for the service or item.
- The payment amount approved and paid by the health care program.
- The reason you think your health care program should not have paid.
- Any additional information or documentation.
Confidentiality
You are not required to provide your name or contact information. If you do, Integrity and Compliance will make every effort to protect your confidentiatiality, if requested. However, it may still be necessary to disclose your identity to individuals outside of VA Office of Integrity and Compliance if:
- It is necessary to research and resolve an issue with your benefits.
- A referral to another VA oversight group is needed.
- Otherwise required by law.
Anonymity
You may opt not to provide any identifying information (name, address, etc.) in your interaction with the Office of Integrity and Compliance (OIC). You should know, however, that opting to remain anonymous may preclude or hinder OIC from thoroughly reviewing and/or resolving any issue identified.
Resources
Visit the Office of Integrity and Compliance website for more information about fraud, waste, and abuse at VHA.
