Breadcrumb

Healthcare Inspection – Review of Primary Care Ghost Panels, Veterans Integrated Service Network 23, Eagan, Minnesota

Report Information

Issue Date
Report Number
16-01708-340
VISN
State
District
VA Office
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
Report Author
Office of Healthcare Inspections
Report Type
Hotline Healthcare Inspection
Recommendations
1
Questioned Costs
$0
Better Use of Funds
$0
Congressionally Mandated
No

Summary

Summary
OIG conducted an inspection in response to allegations received by Congressman Timothy J. Walz regarding whether some primary care (PC) panels at facilities within Veterans Integrated Service Network 23 were ghost panels. We found that 4 of 674 (0.6 percent) PC panels in VISN 23 were ghost panels. In total, 2,301 of 287,095 (0.8 percent) of active PC patients in VISN 23 were assigned to 1 of those panels. The Iowa City VA Health Care System and VA Black Hills Health Care System each had two ghost panels. We did not identify PC ghost panels at the other VISN 23 facilities. The existence of PC ghost panels in VISN 23 is inconsistent with Veterans Health Administration (VHA) policy, which requires patients to be reassigned or redistributed to other PC teams when PC providers discontinue employment. However, we did not identify a negative impact on patients since the facilities had enacted efforts to ensure ongoing patient care for patients assigned to the PC ghost panels. We recommended that the Veterans Integrated Service Network Acting Director ensure that facility Directors reassign or redistribute PC patients to other PC teams as required by Veterans Health Administration and monitor compliance.

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 that the Veterans Integrated Service Network Acting Director ensure that Facility Directors reassign or redistribute primary care patients to other primary care teams as required by the Veterans Health Administration and monitor compliance.