Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General for Washington, D.C., United States for Wednesday, 21 June 2017 "Inspection of the VARO Boise, Idaho"

Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General for Washington, D.C., United States for Wednesday, 21 June 2017 "Inspection of the VARO Boise, Idaho"

Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG). Inspection of the VARO Boise, Idaho In October 2016, we evaluated the VARO Boise, Idaho, to determine how well VSC staff processed disability claims, how timely and accurately they processed proposed rating reductions, how accurately they entered claims-related information, and how well they responded to special controlled correspondence. Staff did not consistently process one of two types of disability claims. We reviewed 30 of 144 veterans’ TBI claims and found that RVSRs accurately processed 29 of them. However, RVSRs did not always process entitlement to SMC and ancillary benefits consistent with VBA policy. We reviewed all 13 veterans’ SMC claims and found that RVSRs incorrectly processed eight. This resulted in 84 improper monthly payments made to three veterans totaling approximately $24,300. This occurred because of ineffective training and a misinterpretation of VBA policy. Staff generally processed proposed rating reductions accurately. However, after reviewing 30 of 89 benefits reductions cases, we found that staff delayed or incorrectly processed 15 of them. Delays occurred because the VSC manager and supervisory VSRs prioritized other workload. Delays and processing inaccuracies resulted in roughly $11,300 in overpayments and an underpayment of approximately $320, representing eight improper monthly payments from July to September 2016. Staff needed to improve the accuracy of claims-related information input into the electronic systems at the time of claims establishment. We reviewed 30 of 156 newly established claims and found that staff did not correctly input claim and claimant information into the electronic systems in nine of them because of an ineffective review process and infrequent refresher training. Consequently, the potential existed for claims to be misrouted and processing to be delayed. Also, a claims assistant did not update the correct code in the electronic systems, resulting in a veteran’s PII being sent to a POA who was not representing him. VARO staff processed special controlled correspondence timely but needed to improve accuracy. We reviewed 30 of 115 special controlled correspondences and found that staff incorrectly processed three of these cases because of a lack of training and inadequate oversight. The errors affected data integrity, misrepresented workload performance, and provided inaccurate information. We recommended the VARO director provide regular refresher training for SMC, claims establishment procedures, and special controlled correspondence processing; implement plans to ensure oversight of proposed rating reduction cases; strengthen the claims establishment review process; and refer the violation to the privacy officer. The director concurred with our recommendations; planned actions are responsive. Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG). Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG) 801 I Street NorthWest Washington, D.C. 20536, United States 800-827-1000

-------

Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG) in Washington, D.C., United States for Wednesday, 21 June 2017 "Physician at Veterans Administration Medical Center in Martinsburg Indicted on Drug Charges"

Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG). Physician at Veterans Administration Medical Center in Martinsburg Indicted on Drug Charges Former VA employee indicted on 15 counts of drug diversion charges. Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG). Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG) 801 I Street NorthWest Washington, D.C. 20536, United States 800-827-1000

-------

Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG) in Washington, D.C., United States for Wednesday, 21 June 2017 "Healthcare Inspection – Alleged Urology Consult Scheduling Delays, Cincinnati VA Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH"

Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG). Healthcare Inspection – Alleged Urology Consult Scheduling Delays, Cincinnati VA Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH OIG conducted a healthcare inspection in response to a confidential complainant’s concerns regarding delays in the scheduling of urology outpatient consults at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center (facility), Cincinnati, OH. Specific allegations included the following: The Urology Section scheduler retired and was not replaced for 7 months; The new scheduler was floated from the Urology Section to work in other locations; The new scheduler was not fully trained for the position; As of July 10, 2015, about 160 veterans were still awaiting an initial appointment even though their providers had requested urology outpatient consult services as early as May 2015. We substantiated that after the Urology Section scheduler retired, a new scheduler was not assigned to the Urology Section until 7 months later. However, other schedulers filled the gaps in coverage. We also substantiated that although the new Urology Section scheduler was required to work in other locations, we found that the scheduler worked the majority of his/her time in the Urology Section. We did not substantiate that the scheduler was not fully trained for his/her duties when assigned to the Urology Section. We substantiated that as of July 6, 2015, 166 Urology Section outpatient consults remained in pending or active status. However, while 85 (52 percent) were pending or active for more than 30 days, 81 (48 percent) of the consults were not over 30 days old. By August 31, 2015, the number was reduced to 11. To assess patient outcomes related to scheduling delays, we reviewed the electronic health records of 39 patients who had outpatient urology consults requested between January 1–August 31, 2015 that remained in a pending or active status for greater than 30 days and who had inpatient hospital stays before August 31, 2015. We did not find evidence that delays in outpatient urology consult appointment scheduling contributed to patients’ hospital admissions within the time frame of the review. We found that from January 11 through May 23, 2016, the scheduling improvements we noted in August 2015 were maintained, with no more than eight urology outpatient consults in a pending or active status. A review of outstanding consults in June 2016 confirmed that problems with delays in consult scheduling had not recurred. Because the consult scheduling improvements were sustained, we made no recommendations. Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG). Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG) 801 I Street NorthWest Washington, D.C. 20536, United States 800-827-1000

-------

Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG) in Washington, D.C., United States for Wednesday, 21 June 2017 "VA's Federal Information Security Modernization Act Audit for Fiscal Year 2016"

Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG). VA's Federal Information Security Modernization Act Audit for Fiscal Year 2016 The Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) of 2014 requires agency Inspectors General to annually assess the effectiveness of agency information security programs and practices. Our FY 2016 audit determined whether VA’s information security program complied with FISMA requirements and applicable National Institute for Standards and Technology guidelines. We contracted with the independent accounting firm CliftonLarsonAllen LLP to perform this audit. VA has made progress developing policies and procedures but still faces challenges implementing components of its agency-wide information security continuous monitoring and risk management program to meet FISMA requirements. While some improvements were noted, this audit identified continuing significant deficiencies related to access controls, configuration management controls, continuous monitoring controls, and service continuity practices designed to protect mission-critical systems. Weaknesses in access and configuration management controls resulted from VA not fully implementing security standards on all servers, databases, and network devices. VA also has not effectively implemented procedures to identify and remediate system security vulnerabilities on network devices, databases, and server platforms VA-wide. Further, VA has not remediated approximately 7,200 outstanding system security risks in its corresponding Plans of Action and Milestones to improve its information security posture. As a result, the FY 2016 Consolidated Financial Statement audit concluded that a material weakness still exists in connection with VA’s information security program. This report contains 33 recommendations for improving VA’s information security program. We recommended the Acting Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology implement comprehensive measures to mitigate security vulnerabilities affecting VA’s mission-critical systems. The Acting Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology agreed with our findings and recommendations. We will monitor the implementation of corrective action plans. Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG). Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG) 801 I Street NorthWest Washington, D.C. 20536, United States 800-827-1000

-------
Military Health System in Washington, D.C., United States for Wednesday, 21 June 2017  "Men's health is important too"

Men's health is important too June marks Men’s Health Month, an opportunity to increase awareness about health issues important to men such as prostate, testicular, skin and colon cancers, hypertension, obesity and heart disease. (MHS graphic) Do you know what the top health risks are for men? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the leading causes of death among men in the U.S. include heart disease, stroke, cancer and respiratory diseases. How can you reduce men’s health risks? Learn about common health problems facing men and how to prevent them. For example, TRICARE covers preventative services to help men of all ages get and stay healthy. Identify Potential Health Concerns Men and women share many of the same health concerns, but there are certain conditions that predominately affect men. Examples include colon cancer, skin cancer, high blood pressure, obesity and heart disease. It’s important to learn about these conditions in addition to the health conditions that are unique to men, such as prostate and testicular cancers. “Take the opportunity to put your health first today,” said Dr. James Black, Medical Director for the Clinical Support Division at the Defense Health Agency. “Knowing the signs and symptoms of common conditions can help let you know if you need to speak to a medical provider and may even save your life.” Your primary care manager (PCM) can also help you identify potential health concerns and assess your risk for developing certain health problems. If you don’t have a primary care manager, find a PCM on the TRICARE website. You can also set up your appointment online. Get Screened Regularly Women are 100 percent more likely to visit the doctor for annual exams and preventive services than men. However, TRICARE offers men several preventative services, such as cancer screenings, lab tests and immunizations. Your PCM can help you decide what tests you need based on your age and risk factors. Important health screening tests for men include:   Blood Pressure Screening Cardiovascular Screening Colorectal Cancer Exam Prostate Cancer Exams Skin Cancer Exams Testicular Cancer Exams Make Healthy Lifestyle Choices Although men seek regular medical care less often than women, they’re more likely to smoke, drink and choose unhealthy or risky behavior. The more committed you are to choosing healthy lifestyle choices, the easier it is to maintain your health. Consider making the following choices to help you live a long and healthy life: Avoid smoking: Smoking can cause conditions such as heart disease and cancer. TRICARE provides resources to help you quit tobacco, such as toll-free quit lines, counseling, and tobacco-cessation medications. Also, UCanQuit2 provides useful tips and tools. Limit alcohol: Drinking too much can contribute to poor health. Visit the TRICARE Alcohol Awareness page for information about alcohol and drinking responsibly.      Eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly: Eating healthy and being physically active can help prevent a variety of health problems. Learn about the benefits of healthy living and how you can improve your overall health. Knowledge of men’s health issues, regular health screenings and leading a healthy lifestyle is only half the challenge of maintaining your health. Taking steps to improve your health and reduce your risk for disease is just as important. Visit the TRICARE website today to learn more and get started. Disclaimer: Re-published content may have been edited for length and clarity. Read original post.  Read More ...

---

Questions for MHS? Contact Us

STAY CONNECTED:

---

Military Health System The Pentagon Washington, D.C. 20301, United States

-------