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Review of Alleged Misuse of VA Funds to Develop the Health Care Claims Processing System

Report Information

Issue Date
Report Number
14-00730-126
VA Office
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
Report Author
Office of Audits and Evaluations
Report Type
Audit
Recommendations
5
Questioned Costs
$0
Better Use of Funds
$0
Congressionally Mandated
No

Summary

Summary
The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted this review in response to allegations received by our Hotline Division. We evaluated the merits of an allegation that Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA) Chief Business Office (CBO) violated appropriations law by improperly obligating over $96 million in medical support and compliance (MS&C) funds to pay for the development of the Health Care Claims Processing System (HCPS). We substantiated that the CBO knowingly violated appropriations law by improperly obligating a total of $92.5 million of MS&C appropriations to finance the development of HCPS. The difference between the alleged and substantiated amounts is due to an estimate cited by the complainant. Of the $92.5 million, the FSC spent approximately $73.8 million. However, $18.7 million still remains obligated. MS&C appropriations are only authorized for administering medical, construction, supply, and research activities. CBO’s misuse of MS&C appropriations occurred because the Deputy Chief Business Officer (DCBO) did not seek the required IT Systems appropriations to fund the development of HCPS. Though initiated by the former DCBO for Purchased Care, MS&C appropriations were used instead of requesting funding from the Office of Information and Technology (OI&T) in hopes of achieving a faster delivery of this new information system. The current DCBO allowed the expenditures to proceed unchecked. As a result, the CBO violated appropriations law when it improperly obligated about $92.5 million of MS&C appropriations to develop HCPS. We recommended the Interim Under Secretary for Health establish oversight mechanisms, seek the return of all MS&C appropriations, de-obligate all current MS&C funds, and obtain appropriate funding for HCPS development. We also recommended that the Interim Under Secretary determine if appropriate administrative action should be taken against DCBO senior officials in the Purchased Care’s chain of command. The Interim Under Secretary for Health concurred with our findings and recommendations and plans to complete all corrective actions by September 30, 2015. We considered these planned actions acceptable and will follow up on their implementation.

Open Recommendation Image, SquareOpenClosed and Implemented Recommendation Image, CheckmarkClosed-ImplementedNot Implemented Recommendation Image, X character'Closed-Not Implemented
No. 1
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
We recommended the Interim Under Secretary for Health establish oversight mechanisms to ensure Veterans Health Administration uses medical support and compliance funds in accordance with appropriation laws.
No. 2
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
We recommended the Interim Under Secretary for Health seek the return of all medical support and compliance funds used to develop and support the Health Care Claims Processing System.
No. 3
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
We recommended the Interim Under Secretary for Health deobligate all medical support and compliance funds that remain obligated toward the development of the Health Care Claims Processing System.
No. 4
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
We recommended the Interim Under Secretary for Health obtain the appropriate funding to support the development of the Health Care Claims Processing System, if additional system development requirements are unfunded.
No. 5
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
We recommended the Interim Under Secretary for Health confer with the Office of Human Resources and the Office of General Counsel to determine if appropriate administrative action should be taken against any senior officials in the Deputy Chief Business Office for Purchased Care's supervisory chain of command, and ensure that action is taken.