“A federal watchdog agency has 14 projects underway to track the Trump administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General plans to audit the distribution of $50 billion to healthcare providers as part of the CARES Act provider relief fund, said Christi Grimm, Principal Deputy Inspector at HHS, during a video briefing Tuesday with members of the Committee on Oversight and Reform.”
“The inspector general plans to examine the effectiveness of HHS controls over the awarding and disbursement of billions in Provider Relief Fund (PRF) payments to hospitals and other providers. The goal is to understand how payments were calculated and review PRF payments for compliance with Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act requirements, she said.”
“Grimm also said she was in discussions with the inspector general for the Department of Homeland Security for a joint investigation into the distribution of supplies from the national stockpile.”
“Among the 14 planned projects, the IG also plans to look at the Food and Drug Administration’s role in COVID-19 testing, including examining the FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization processes and challenges with COVID-19 diagnostic tests and serological tests for antibodies.”
“The federal watchdog also plans to review the CDC’s process of producing and distributing COVID-19 test kits…” Read the full article here.
Source: HHS watchdog plans to investigate CARES Act funding to providers – May 26, 2020. FierceHealthcare.
