2016 Top Management & Performance Challenges

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) has identified 10 top management and performance challenges facing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as it strives to fulfill its mission “to enhance the health and well-being of Americans by providing effective health and human services and by fostering sound, sustained advances in the sciences underlying medicine, public health, and social services.” These top challenges arise across HHS programs, including, Medicare, Medicaid, the Public Health Service, and the Indian Health Service. These challenges cover critical HHS responsibilities that include delivering quality services and benefits, exercising sound fiscal management, safeguarding public health and safety, and enhancing cybersecurity. OIG maintains a list of recommended solutions to address vulnerabilities detected in its audits and evaluations and identifies the top unimplemented recommendations that, if implemented, are likely to garner significant savings and improvements in efficiency and effectiveness.

2016 OIG Top Management and Performance Challenges Facing HHS

1. Ensuring Program Integrity in Medicare Parts A and B
2. Effectively Administering the Medicaid Program to Improve Oversight of Managed Care, Address High Improper Payments, and Strengthen Program Integrity
3. Improving Financial and Administrative Management
4. Health Information Technology and the Meaningful and Secure Exchange and Use of Electronic Information
5. Ensuring the Proper Administration of HHS Grants for Public Health and Human Services Programs
6. Curbing the Abuse and Misuse of Controlled and Non-controlled Drugs in Medicare Part D and Medicaid
7. Ensuring Quality of Care and Safety for Vulnerable Populations
8. Operating and Overseeing the Health Insurance Marketplaces
9. Managing Delivery System Reform and Strengthening Medicare Advantage
10. Ensuring the Safety of Food, Drugs, and Medical Devices

In this presidential transition year, HHS must address these challenges while undertaking the additional important responsibility of conducting a well-orchestrated transition to new leadership, consistent with the executive order on “Facilitation of a Presidential Transition” and other requirements. The transition will require heightened focus on effective coordination across HHS operating divisions, continuity of operations, and emergency preparedness. This transition must be accomplished while maintaining and strengthening HHS’s many complex programs and protecting and serving its beneficiaries.

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