OIG is Growing and Expanding to Stop Fraud and Patient Harm

This morning (10-26-2015) attendees of the HCCA inaugural Healthcare Enforcement Compliance Institute heard from Gary Cantrell, Deputy Inspector General for Investigations.  He shared that OIG plans to grow by adding 200 bodies across OIG’s Offices.

Mr. Cantrell also shared the successes of the OIG, including expanding the work of stopping fraud beyond the work of the Medicare Strike Forces to the largest take down in Strike Force history.  243 individuals were arrested in connection with approximately $712 million in false billings.  The “alleged” fraud involved home health, psychotherapy, PT and OT, DME and pharmacy fraud.

Of most significance is that OIG’s priority continues to be intervening quickly when there is patient harm, identified by whistleblowers and  data trends. Data analytics play a significant role in the identification of potential fraud. Mr. Cantrell shared the quick action that OIG and DOJ were able to take when they were told by a whistleblower about the greed of Dr. Farid Fata who was providing unnecessary chemo therapy to 553 patients who did not need the care.

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