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Office of Oversight, Risk and Ethics

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Office of Integrity and Compliance

What We Do

The Office of Integrity and Compliance's (OIC) top priority is protecting Veterans' trust in VA healthcare. We start by promoting a system-wide culture of integrity, a vital part of VA's focus on High Reliability Organization (HRO) principles.

Mission

OIC's mission is to enhance and preserve Veterans' trust by promoting a culture of integrity. OIC helps VHA in finding, assessing and appropriately responding to compliance risks across the enterprise. OIC also supports compliance officers in facilities, program offices, Consolidated Patient Account Centers (CPACs) and Veterans Integrated Services Networks (VISNs), to promote a standard program to address non-ethical and non-compliant behavior.

Vision

Increase partnerships with stakeholders, program offices, VISNs, VA Medical Centers and Veterans and their families to help solve compliance and integrity challenges across VHA.

Integrity and Compliance Officers

OIC achieves our mission with "boots on the ground" Integrity and Compliance Officers (ICOs) assigned to each major VA medical facility. Compliance officers help Veterans resolve and report instances of fraud, waste and abuse, including issues with billing, improper conduct and things that just "feel wrong." ICOs work closely with VA leaders to help find and monitor high-risk activities to protect both employees and Veterans alike.

Do you need to contact your local ICO? You have options.

  • If you are at a VA facility, ask an employee to direct you to the local ICO.
  • If outside a VA facility, call the VHA Compliance Helpline: 866-842-4357 (VHA-HELP).
  • You can also ask the Operator at your VA Medical Center to connect you to the local ICO.
Document cover with the VA Seal and an armed services member saluting.

Culture of Integrity

VHA's Culture of Integrity means our employees commit to doing what is right. All VHA employees are trained to follow applicable laws, policies and regulations in support of an environment that encourages speaking up and reporting concerns without fear of retaliation. Just as Veterans demonstrated integrity while serving our country, VHA employees also hold themselves to a standard of integrity.

The VHA Code of Integrity underscores the unique role VHA staff play in Veterans' care. Centered around VA's ICARE values of Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect and Excellence, the Code provides high-level guidance regarding VHA's expectations for how VHA staff work together, provide care to Veterans, conduct research, maintain financial records, protect assets and serve as government employees. Access resources through the VHA Code of Integrity.

Fraud, Waste and Abuse

Both employees and Veterans can promote a Culture of Integrity by finding and reporting fraud, waste and abuse. OIC works with offices such as the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) to address fraud, waste and abuse across the enterprise.

  • Fraud is attempting to gain something of value by intentionally misrepresenting a situation—fraud is intentional misconduct.
  • Waste is misusing money or resources, even if not explicitly illegal or intentional.
  • Abuse is behaving improperly or unreasonably or misusing one's position or authority.

Learn more about Fraud, Waste and Abuse by watching this short video.

Reporting Fraud, Waste and Abuse

Fraud, Waste and Abuse has no role in VHA's Culture of Integrity!

In cases of suspected criminal activity, call the VA OIG Hotline:

You can report fraud, waste and abuse to:

  • A VA employee, volunteer or medical professional
  • Your local Integrity and Compliance Officer
  • VHA Compliance Helpline: (866) 842-4357 (VHA-HELP)

These options are in no order, and employees and Veterans can report as they feel most comfortable.

Learn more

Watch this short video to learn more about OIC's work for Veterans.

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