This is a computer translation of the original webpage. It is provided for general information only and should not be regarded as complete nor accurate. Close Disclaimer
Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it's official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Return to Featured Topics

HHS-OIG's Oversight of COVID-19 Response and Recovery

Last Updated: 11-05-2024

Notice

OIG COVID-19 flexibilities ended upon the expiration of the COVID-19 Declaration on May 11, 2023. For more information, see this announcement.


Fraud Alert: COVID-19 Scams

The emergence of COVID-19 created unprecedented challenges for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and for the delivery of health care and human services to those enrolled in Federal health care programs. HHS leads the Federal public health and medical response during public health emergencies. As the oversight agency for HHS, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) works to enhance the effectiveness of HHS's response and recovery efforts related to the pandemic. The information on this page highlights OIG's agency-wide work concerning COVID-19.

Strategic Plan

The COVID-19 Response Strategic Plan sets forth the goals that drive OIG's strategic planning and mission execution regarding HHS's COVID-19 response and recovery. This plan highlights our main objectives and ongoing and potential OIG work to advance each goal.

  1. Protect people
  2. Protect funds
  3. Protect infrastructure
  4. Promote effectiveness of HHS programs -now and into the future

View the COVID-19 Response Strategic Plan

Reports

OIG is publishing audits and evaluations assessing COVID-19 preparedness and response in programs that serve HHS beneficiaries. End of
Translation Click to Translate text after this point Our reports result in timely information and may provide recommendations regarding HHS programs and operations. The expected impact of OIG's reports varies from direct cost savings and recovery of misspent funds to improvements in payment efficiency, program operations, quality of services, and public safety.

View Completed Reports

View Reviews Currently Underway

Enforcement Actions

With our law enforcement partners, OIG is vigilantly combating COVID-19-related schemes that endanger people and threaten the integrity of Federal health care programs. We assist in identifying and pursuing fraudsters who, among other scams, offer the public counterfeit treatments, illegitimate contact tracing services, and false promises of priority access to vaccines in exchange for medical or personal information. OIG participates in cases seeking to bring scammers to justice including those below.

If you suspect health care fraud, report it immediately online or call
800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

View HHS-OIG COVID-19 Enforcement Actions

Policies & Guidance

Given the challenges of this pandemic, we are coordinating closely with HHS, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and our law enforcement partners to support the health care system's response to COVID-19.

We issue policy statements notifying health care providers that OIG will not impose administrative sanctions under the Federal anti-kickback statute for certain remuneration related to COVID-19. These measures are intended to ensure that health care providers have the regulatory flexibility necessary to adequately respond to COVID-19 concerns and deliver needed care during this emergency.

We accept inquiries from the health care community regarding the application of OIG's administrative enforcement authorities, including the Federal anti-kickback statute and civil monetary penalty provision, for their COVID-19-related care delivery activities. In answering the questions and posting the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to our website, we aim to support providers as they address their patients' needs during the pandemic.

This is not intended to be a formal agency solicitation. OIG welcomes questions from the health care community related to the application of OIG's authorities during the outbreak of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The receipt of a question does not obligate OIG to take action, including responding to the question, making questions public, or issuing public guidance. Complaints about fraud, waste, or abuse in HHS programs should not be submitted to this portal but should instead be submitted to tips.hhs.gov, or individuals may call 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

View COVID-19 Policy Statements and FAQs

Related Content

Principal Deputy Inspector General (PDIG) Christi Grimm testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Reform on May 26, 2020. The briefing was titled, "The Administration's Coronavirus Response."

Read the Opening Statement

PDIG Christi Grimm co-wrote an opinion article titled "Four crucial lessons for improving Covid-19 testing." The piece was published by CNN on April 9, 2021.

Read the Op-ed