HHS Office of Inspector General Is Monitoring Funds Disbursements and Billing and Claims Data

On May 26, 2020, Christi Grimm, the Principal Deputy Inspector General of the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) briefed the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Reform on the OIG’s oversight efforts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this briefing she reported that the OIG will audit the disbursement of funds made through the Provider Relief Fund following reports that wealthy hospitals received a disproportionate share of the funds, rather than smaller, poorer hospitals most in need. She also reported that the OIG is monitoring billing and claims data to ensure that hospitals are not upcoding to take advantage of higher COVID-19 reimbursement rates.